‘Ronnie, ruthless, relentless’ – O’Sullivan enjoys huge slice of luck on return to snooker action at Championship League

Ronnie O’Sullivan returned to action at the Championship League in Leicester on Wednesday as the seven-time world champion began his Group 7 campaign against Sam Craigie with a 3-2 win.

The UK and Masters champion saw an attempted safety go wrong as a double kiss on the blue ended up with the blue ball dropping down a left middle pocket before he wrapped up the frame with a delightful long pot on the pink.

“Oh no, Ronnie, ruthless, relentless, no guilt whatsoever,” said commentator Phil Yates. “Quite rightly so because this game, you can get good and bad luck. When you get the good, you might as well take advantage of it.”

O’Sullivan and Craigie are joined by Elliot Slessor, Joe O’Connor, Pang Junxu and Jak Jones and Jordan Brown at the Championship League with the winner of Group 7 on Thursday night qualifying for the final stage.

Stuart Bingham, Chris Wakelin, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, John Higgins and Kyren Wilson have already booked their place in the winners’ group (March 12-13).