International Championship 2023 snooker LIVE – Ronnie O’Sullivan sparkles in win, Luca Brecel and Neil Robertson exit

Meanwhile, Dominic Dale has stunned Shaun Murphy 6-3 to advance with Murphy joining Luca Brecel and Neil Robertson in suffering an early exit from the event.

All of the matches are the race to six frames for a place in the last 32.

• Judd Trump 6-0 Michael White
• Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-3 Mark Joyce
• Anthony McGill 4-3 Sam Craigie
• Daniel Wells 6-1 Neil Robertson
• Shaun Murphy 3-6 Dominic Dale
• Robbie Williams 4-4 Gary Wilson
• Long Zehuang 4-6 Ding Junhui
• Pang Junxu 5-4 Fan Zhengyi

Neil Robertson loses 6-1 to world No. 94 Daniel Wells, who rolls in breaks of 64, 132 and 80 to secure a last-32 meeting with Zhou Yuelong on Tuesday morning. Robertson made 57 and 79, but is clearly struggling for form.

He has yet to go beyond the second round of a ranking event this season with his semi-final appearance at the Shanghai Masters his best return so far. Of course, form is temporary, class is permanent in sport.

All of the matches are the race to six frames for a place in the last 32.

• Judd Trump 6-0 Michael White
• Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-3 Mark Joyce
• Anthony McGill 3-3 Sam Craigie
• Daniel Wells 6-1 Neil Robertson
• Shaun Murphy 3-5 Dominic Dale
• Robbie Williams 2-4 Gary Wilson
• Long Zehuang 4-4 Ding Junhui
• Pang Junxu 3-4 Fan Zhengyi

Breaks of 86, 110, 131, 116 and 81 from O’Sullivan, who meets Jak Jones in the last 32 on Tuesday morning.

In goes the balls Ronnie needs and that is the win for the seven-time world champion, who has been in brilliant form for much of this match. A standing ovation from the fans after an outstanding display.

O’Sullivan in total control of this frame as Joyce goes for a long red. Doesn’t drop, but Ronnie then gets a huge slice of luck to leave white behind brown after missing a red by miles. What a predicament. He escapes, but surely this match is over. Leaves the red and in goes yellow.

But Ronnie can’t clip home a cut on a red. Looked like he was overstretching to reach that. A lifeline then for Joyce after he brought black into play, but he can’t drop the red into the green bag.

A break of 47. No winning thrust, but the reds are marooned on the top cushion. One foot in the last 32 the way this table looks.

O’Sullivan has been dialled in on these balls since falling 2-0 behind. Lovely pot on pink to right centre. Screws back to land on a red to left middle. Superb shot. Chance to get this match won here and now for Ronnie. Plenty of reds in the open.

Ronnie misses a thin attempt on a red twice, but comes up with a superb shot on the third attempt as he changes plan and Mark pushes a red over a top pocket. In goes brown to right centre and off goes O’Sullivan in this ninth frame.

All of the matches are the race to six frames for a place in the last 32.

• Judd Trump 6-0 Michael White
• Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-3 Mark Joyce
• Anthony McGill 3-1 Sam Craigie
• Daniel Wells 4-0 Neil Robertson
• Shaun Murphy 3-3 Dominic Dale
• Robbie Williams 1-3 Gary Wilson
• Long Zehuang 3-3 Ding Junhui
• Pang Junxu 3-3 Fan Zhengyi

No century this time, but a very efficient high-quality run of 81 is pieced together with minimum ease. Ronnie on the cusp of the last 32.

Just finalising the finishing touches to this frame with another massive break. Mark Joyce is forced to digest missing that brown. Simply can’t afford to miss easy ones at this level. Or harder ones.

O’Sullivan lands on a red in the bunch. Can just sneak it home, but he negotiates the fine cut on red superbly and is well placed here to wrap up another frame for a 5-3 lead you would think.

Joyce with first chance in the eighth frame, but can’t clip a tricky brown into the yellow bag. O’Sullivan presented with an opportunity he probably didn’t see coming. Quickly out of his chair.

The winner of this match will face Jak Jones in the last 32 on Tuesday morning at 11:30am GMT.

So Joyce has stopped the bleeding by battling his way to the seventh frame. Not overly convincing from either man, but for once Ronnie can’t punish and he leads 4-3 in the race to six. Still life in this match yet.

Poor break-off by Ronnie has presented Mark with an early chance in this seventh frame. Vital that he produces a hefty break here the way this match is working out. And has made bright start to the frame. But a straight red stays out. Cues across it and presents the opportunity for O’Sullivan to make his return, but he then rattles a black off the spot into the jaws. That is unexpected.

Judd Trump chasing a fourth straight ranking title victory enjoys a 6-0 whitewash of Michael White, who managed only 52 points in response. Breaks of 79, 73, 65, 141, 56 and 68. He will face former UK champion Stephen Maguire in the last 32 on Tuesday morning.

Another mesmerising total clearance of 116 from O’Sullivan. A third straight century and he moves 4-2 ahead in the race to six. What can you say about this? Snooker from the Gods is about right. Needed a third bite at it, but certainly didn’t ruin his appetite.

This is a serious clubbing as a red is rattled down a side rail and into the pocket via the rest.

And another frame is going to slip away from Joyce in about the same time it takes to boil a kettle. Is a third straight century on the cards? Looks like a formality the way he is stroking this cue ball. “Ronnie showing us that the old magic is still there,” says Angles.

Early chances for O’Sullivan in this sixth frame, but can’t land ideally on a colour and a reprieve for Mark, who butchers a safety shot in response. Must be feeling the pressure under such a barrage of scoring. O’Sullivan drops a nice red into right middle, and at the third time of asking he will fancy his chances of scoring a few points.

All of these are the race to six frames for a place in the last 32.

• Judd Trump 5-0 Michael White
• Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-2 Mark Joyce
• Anthony McGill 2-1 Sam Craigie
• Daniel Wells 3-0 Neil Robertson
• Shaun Murphy 2-2 Dominic Dale
• Robbie Williams 0-3 Gary Wilson
• Long Zehuang 3-1 Ding Junhui
• Pang Junxu 3-1 Fan Zhengyi

What do you do if you are Joyce in this situation? Just have to be positive in the face of vintage O’Sullivan. “He might be a bit scared and scarred, because of what’s happened in the last few frames,” comments Fergal in comms.

A total clearance of 131 from Rocket Ronnie at the International Championship. In full flow. He leads for the first time at 3-2. Joyce hasn’t potted a ball since the second frame.

This is breathtaking levels of skill from Ronnie. Makes it look so easy when he is in the mood. Should be a century coming up. In goes the brown and he nudges out the final red. “A little masterpiece he’s been creating,” comments Angles.

Nothing really between Ronnie and a 3-2 lead in this match. All the reds are there for the taking. Wouldn’t bet against him making back-to-back centuries. “It’s an art form the way he does it,” says former British Open champion Fergal O’Brien in comms. “His cueball control is immaculate. Mark Joyce probably doesn’t know what’s happened.”

Ronnie drops in a more obvious long red this time, but impressive all the same. And he is on the move again in this fifth frame of the day. Really is starting to show his quality before a packed crowd.

Judd Trump is himself showing off his scoring class so far today. Breaks of 79, 73, 65 and 141. He leads Michael White 5-0. Making light work of his last-64 match. And he is on the cusp of a last-32 berth.

“Last two frames were awesome by O’Sullivan,” says 1994 Masters champion Alan McManus on comms. “Two sparkling long reds to set up frames three and four.”

All of these are the race to six frames for a place in the last 32.

• Judd Trump 3-0 Michael White
• Ronnie O’Sullivan 2-2 Mark Joyce
• Anthony McGill 1-0 Sam Craigie
• Daniel Wells 2-0 Neil Robertson
• Shaun Murphy 1-1 Dominic Dale
• Robbie Williams 0-2 Gary Wilson
• Long Zehuang 3-1 Ding Junhui
• Pang Junxu 2-1 Fan Zhengyi

Ronnie lost two scrappy opening frames, but breaks of 86 and 110 levels us up at the interval. In no time at all. One inspired pot, and the whole nature of this match changes.

The frame is won by O’Sullivan and we will be level at 2-2 in this contest at the mid-session. One-visit snooker when he needed it most.

Almost over the line in this frame. Just a question of whether or not there is a century to go with it. Joyce must be wondering what has hit him here.

Looking to make a quick kill to restore parity at 2-2. Break speeds to 44 and you suspect Joyce should get the kettle on for a mid-session cup of tea because this frame looks a done deal.

And another fantastic opening red from the Joyce break-off shot before he rumbles straight into the pack off the black. A quite brilliant shot and another chance to score big in the fourth frame of this contest. Really looks in peak form now.

What can you say? Just class from O’Sullivan as he puts together a marvellous run of 86 to close the gap back to 2-1 behind. One more frame before the mid-session break.

This has been some response from O’Sullivan. Just catching fire at the right time. Not even a bad safety by Joyce, but he is going to sit out the frame.

Stunning long red from Ronnie early in the third frame. That will do his confidence no harm at all as he tries to find a bit of momentum in this match.

O’Sullivan faced with a tricky snooker on the yellow, but misses it off the baulk cushion. Balls are replaced and O’Sullivan goes off a different cushion, but again misses the object ball. So 28 the difference and Ronnie then thumps the black after Joyce left him next to the pink. That should be that. Timely snookers making the difference late in the second frame. O’Sullivan in a spot of bother as he falls 2-0 behind.

Black is tied up, but plenty of balls in the open to put this second frame to bed. “Looks in control of his game, and his emotions,” says former British Open winner Fergal O’Brien on comms. But just when it look a certainty, Joyce pots pink, but watches in dismay as a red drops down the opposite top bag. Great billiards shot, but not so good in snooker. O’Sullivan handed glorious chance to counter, but can’t find ideal position and is forced to run safe. Joyce then slams home the final red before playing safe off the pink.

Joyce certainly being presented with a few chances to get his hand on table in these early exchanges after O’Sullivan looks at a long red, but nowhere near the potting angle. Joyce looking to open up a handy lead in the second frame.

Ronnie just failing to sink a long red, but no damage done as Mark can’t cash in after holing red over a top pocket. A let-off for the world No. 1.

Ronnie has seen enough of the first frame after the yellow disappears. Built up an early lead, but a bad miss on a red among the balls costs him the chance of winning the opener. A nice frame to settle Joyce down, you would suggest.

And into the lead in this frame as break reaches 52. Just those two troublesome reds the issue to deal with. Cracks home a brilliant double on the red to keep the break going and in goes the black. No position on the final red, but a very sharp break of 60 before he runs safe.

And Ronnie misses the red off one cushion trying to escape from the snooker. Escapes the second time, but overhits the white and has left this red. Chance for Joyce to get the frame won. In goes red and black. Looks like a 1-0 lead.

A fairly rapid 28 from Joyce. He is right back in the hunt in this opening frame with two difficult reds near the right side cushion the only obvious problems.

A break of 23 from Ronnie before he runs out of position, but world No. 67 Joyce can’t float home a long red. Was an obvious half-chance, but not snaffled up by Mark. And a poor safety shot presents O’Sullivan with another chance to press on in this opening frame of a possible 11 in the last 64. But he then misses a red using his left hand. Nobody expected that. A few mobile phones going off as Joyce returns to the table.

A huge reception for O’Sullivan ahead of this match. Joyce qualified for this event with a 6-3 win over Andy Lee, but this will be his first match at the venue. And straight onto the main TV table. Tidy opening red by Ronnie to get his day up and running. Followed by a tidy ‘Alex Higgins’ blue to the green bag.

All of these are the race to six frames for a place in the last 32.

• Judd Trump v Michael White
• Ronnie O’Sullivan v Mark Joyce
• Anthony McGill v Sam Craigie
• Daniel Wells v Neil Robertson
• Shaun Murphy v Dominic Dale
• Robbie Williams v Gary Wilson
• Long Zehuang v Ding Junhui
• Pang Junxu v Fan Zhengyi

It was a stunning victory for Mark Davis, who dumped out reigning world champion Luca Brecel from the International Championship in Tianjin. It will arguably go down as one of the best wins in Davis’ career, as a 4-0 lead ultimately set the 51-year-old on the way to a 6-3 victory. There were no such problems for world No. 5 Mark Selby, who progressed past Stuart Carrington with a 6-2 win. But Mark Williams is also out of the event after suffering a 6-3 defeat to Zhang Anda, who hit breaks of 77, 85, 67, 77, 128 and 83 in a fine victory against the three-time Crucible winner.

Another fascinating day’s play is on the cards at the International Championship in Tianjin.

World No. 1 Ronnie O’Sullivan meets Mark Joyce in the last 64 after a heavy-scoring 6-1 win against 1997 world champion Ken Doherty on Sunday, while defending champion Judd Trump is up against Michael White after his resounding 6-0 whitewash of 12-year-old Wang Xinzhong that saw Trump begin the match with two centuries.

Elsewhere this manic Monday morning, or if you prefer the evening session in China, we have Neil Robertson facing Daniel Wells and Shaun Murphy meeting Dominic Dale. Should be a riveting few hours ahead.

Boys on the baize at 11:30am GMT.

It was a battle of icons as Ronnie O’Sullivan breezed past Ken Doherty to claim a place in the second round of the International Championship in China.

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.

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

Meanwhile, Judd Trump was in no mood to waste time in his first round match of the whitewashing 12-year-old Wang Xinzhong 6-0 to make it 21 wins on the bounce as he begins his quest for a fourth straight title.

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.