Ronnie O’Sullivan returns to the Crucible this week with the aim of becoming the record holder for most snooker World Championships won.
He has won the title seven times, a record he holds with Stephen Hendry, but would move clear with an eighth victory should he successfully won the tournament in Sheffield.
O’Sullivan is in fine form having triumphed in the UK Championship and Masters earlier this season and there is the possibility that he can make a clean sweep of snooker’s Triple Crown events if he wins this competition. It would be the first time in his career that O’Sullivan has achieved that feat.
All of that is in the future as he must get through the first round against Jackson Page to begin with. The Welshman has lost both his previous meetings with O’Sullivan but will want to impress on the world stage this week.
Follow all the action from the Crucible below plus get the latest odds and tips right here:
Ronnie O’Sullivan 8-1 Jackson Page
Any chance he could, Ronnie O’Sullivan put Jackson Page under pressure and it paid off handsomely. He won eight of the nine frames played today and needs two more to move into the next round.
Jackson Page has been blown away this afternoon but he showed his class with a break of 142.
Mike Jones24 April 2024 17:34
Ronnie O’Sullivan 8-1 Jackson Page
Ronnie O’Sullivan is flying now. Each pot is being met with loud applause as he moves further and further away from Page in the scoring.
O’Sullivan leaves nothing to chance with a confident break to move up to 98. The frame is his and he’ll take an 8-1 lead into tomorrow’s action.
Mike Jones24 April 2024 17:33
Ronnie O’Sullivan 7-1 Jackson Page
A couple of errors from Page give O’Sullivan an opportunity to work the table. There are only a couple of decent options after all the safety play but he picks them off easily enough.
A break of 36 comes to an end after O’Sullivan splits the pack but doesn’t leave a red open.
Mike Jones24 April 2024 17:28
Ronnie O’Sullivan 7-1 Jackson Page
O’Sullivan attempts to curl the cueball around the blue to clip a red but misses. He fouls to give away four points but the next attempt comes off perfectly.
This has been the most tactical frame of the match so far.
Mike Jones24 April 2024 17:23
Ronnie O’Sullivan 7-1 Jackson Page
Okay then, the final frame of today’s action. Can Page get another one on the board and give himself so hope for tomorrow?
Both men engage in a couple of safety shots each before O’Sullivan plays a long one to the bottom left pocket. The red drops in but there’s no chance at following up with a colour.
Mike Jones24 April 2024 17:15
Ronnie O’Sullivan 7-1 Jackson Page
There it is! O’Sullivan comes down the table and pots a long shot on the yellow before taking out the green, brown and blue in quick succession.
When the pink and black drop the frame goes to O’Sullivan. He’s three away from the next round with just one to play this afternoon.
Mike Jones24 April 2024 17:12
Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-1 Jackson Page
Oh no. O’Sullivan miscues and fouls by hitting the black gifting seven points to Page. The gap is 35 points with 35 remaining on the table.
Page looks to tidy up the colours after taking out the final red then a black. He misses the yellow but doesn’t leave it available for O’Sullivan.
O’Sullivan needs just get in to win the frame but Page is playing okay at the minute.
Mike Jones24 April 2024 17:10
Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-1 Jackson Page
Page’s persistance in paying off. He manages to draw one foul out of O’Sullivan but will need another four points before he can think about cleaning up.
Oh! Page tries to play safe and misses the red meaning he gifts the four points back to O’Sullivan. Two snookers still required.
Mike Jones24 April 2024 17:05
Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-1 Jackson Page
O’Sullivan gets up to 66 with 59 points remaining on the table. That’s just two snookers with three reds on the table. Jackson Page will keep this frame going for a while yet.
He takes out a red and pairs it with the black but has nothing left on. He then plays safe and O’Sullivan leaves him on.
Mike Jones24 April 2024 17:00