Judd Trump whitewashes Wang Xinzhong at International Championship, Ronnie O’Sullivan breezes past Ken Doherty

Trump has been in dazzling form on the baize en route to landing the Wuhan, English, and Northern Ireland Opens, and this week can join Stephen Hendry as the only other player to bag a quartet of ranking events in succession.

He required more than one visit to take the third before a break of 67 got him over the line for a 4-0 cushion at the break.

Trump won a scrappy fifth before completing the victory in ruthless fashion with a break of 89 in the sixth and final frame and will play Michael White next.

On Table 1, it was a battle of icons as Ken Doherty took on Ronnie O’Sullivan for a place in the second round.

Doherty needed a few chances but eventually clinched the first frame to get off to the perfect start before O’Sullivan hit back emphatically.

Breaks of 112, 81 and 66 gave ‘The Rocket’ a 3-1 lead at the mid-session interval and he picked up where he left off in the fifth with a 78 following some costly mistakes from Doherty.

That was the general theme of the match. In truth, O’Sullivan barely got out of second gear but was let-off time and time again by Doherty, who failed to capitalise on the opportunities that were presented to him.

Not even the run of the balls favoured the Irishman, who looked set to win the sixth frame and make it 4-2 before the pink cannoned into the pocket, allowing O’Sullivan to pinch it for 5-1.

The Rocket sealed the 6-1 victory with a 68 in the seventh to set up a second-round tie with Mark Joyce.