World Snooker Championship 2024 LIVE – Ronnie O'Sullivan ...

WM | John Higgins - Jamie Jones

Down to the final red then as Jones tries to snake it down the side rail. Red comes back up the table to nestle behind the blue. This frame still well in the mixer as Jamie is left with a pot at the red from distance. But nothing doing. Frame been running for 36 minutes so far. No nearer a conclusion.

Some very fine tactical exchanges with the two reds tied up near the black spot on top cush. A lead of 25 points looks very handy.

John trying to roll a red along the baulk cushion, but doesn't drop to yellow bag before Jamie snicks in the red. Still not much doing elsewhere with two reds tied up. Just a safety from the world No. 41.

Excellent double on a red by John to gain access to the old green baize. Not a frame-winning chance at the moment, but certainly chance to build an advantage. A few errors creeping into his opponent's game at the wrong time. But then Higgins is too thick in missing the final red in the open with the other four reds near side rails.

A third straight frame is reeled off by Hawkins, who adds a 50 knock to move 7-5 to the good. Day will be keen to stop the rot before the interval.

But not really making any serious capital as he adds only eight to his total before running safe.

Super snooker by Jones to stick Higgins tight behind the brown. John can't escape from the snooker and sticks up a red for Jones to pot the red with rest and free up the black too. Excellent shot.

'Wow!' - Higgins apologises for 'very fortunate fluke'

Safety blunder by John presents his opponent with chance to score, but Jamie misses a tricky red thick bridging over another red. Chance immediately passes to Higgins, who then misses a straight blue to green bag.

A 92 break from Hawkins in the 10th frame before he dominates the 11th frame to move 6-5 clear from 5-4 behind overnight.

Jones not making much progress in cutting the Higgins lead as mid-range red eludes the Welshman. Not the best spot of cueing and the Scotsman finishes off the frame in his favour with a few more pots. Back to 1-1 then in this first-round match.

Chance for Higgins of a long red, but he can't sink the object ball. Jones returns to table looking for a counter clearance of his own. Only problem ball on table looks to be the yellow.

Not quite over the line, but Higgins builds a lead of 61 points. Looking for one more red to seal the deal in his favour. Five reds left on table. That fluke was a nice one to get.

Well, a huge spot of luck for Higgins as he misses a straight yellow only to see the yellow rattle the jaws then head back across table to drop in right centre bag. What a timely fluke. Shake of the head from John, but he will accept those all day long.

Great chance for John to hit back straight away as Jamie can't nudge in a red over a top pocket coming off another red, and he also develops the black. Would dearly love a big response, but he is out of position off the brown heading into reds. Just safety to follow.

A brilliant run of 118 from Jones to move one ahead of Higgins. A dream start to the evening.

What a start to the night by Jones. In goes the century straight off the bat. An assured way to get your evening up and running.

A very, very impressive start by Jamie. Has been so precise with his control of the white ball. Can see why he did for Robbo in qualifying on this showing. Looks full of confidence, and is heading for a 1-0 lead as a red to left middle disappears.

Lovely shot to nothing becomes a shot to something for Jamie as in goes the red followed by a brown. Plenty of reds in open. So this is a chance to score a few points. Jones looking very busy at the business end of the table as he lands on black nicely with a solid cannon.

Bit of a nervy start for Jones as he fails to clip home a cut on a red to green bag. Almost fluke it in the yellow pocket, but red stays above ground. Higgins eyes up a shot to nothing. Rattles the red in jaws of a top bag before screwing back to baulk.

As always, an expectant crowd inside the Crucible for these matches tonight. Higgins making a 30th straight appearance at the Crucible. Higgins emerging to the sounds of The Proclaimers' 500 miles. Higgins hopes to walk towards the last 16 tonight. Jones gets the action up and running. First man to 10 frames will prevail.

Ronnie O'Sullivan took a giant step towards booking his spot in the second round of the World Snooker Championship after opening up a commanding advantage over Jackson Page in the first session of their round-one encounter. The seven-time champion raced into a 6-0 lead before Page finally got on the board, but O'Sullivan took the final two frames to pull within two of victory. Read more here

Welcome back to the action from the Crucible Theatre with 'Wizard of Wishaw' John Higgins meeting Jamie Jones in the last of the first-round matches. Nine frames to be played this evening for Higgins – the world champion of 1998, 2007, 2009 and 2011 – against the talented qualifier who eliminated Neil Robertson 10-9 in the final qualifying round. While Ryan Day holds a 5-4 lead over Barry Hawkins before they play to a finish on the other main table.

The winner of that one meets snooker GOAT Ronnie O'Sullivan in the last 16. Unless of course O'Sullivan blows an 8-1 lead over Day's fellow Welshman Jackson Page. Boys on baize at back of 7pm. Enjoy some re-spotting controversy from earlier today.

'Nowhere near right!' - O'Sullivan and ref in re-spot confusion over correct mark

John Higgins begins his tournament against Jamie Jones, while Ryan Day continues his match with Barry Hawkins 5-4 in front. They will be playing to a finish.

They will resume tomorrow afternoon, with the result surely a formality.

Both matches set to end at a similar time. A couple more pots and O'Sullivan will be 8-1 up overnight.

And he does so with a break of 114.

O'Sullivan has played risk-free thus far, happy to play safe when a break is in peril, as he does here.

Allen has clinched a place in the last 16 and may do so with a century.

A Page error has O'Sullivan with a chance to build a lead.

He has made some good pots, but he still needs a few more to make it a frame-winning chance.

A mobile phone went off as Allen was on his backswing, but he still goes through with the pot.

The break ends at 86, but it is more than enough.

A fantastic break, which is not done yet, will bring the scores back to 9-6.

O'Sullivan pots yellow to black to secure the frame.

An awful attempt at getting out of a snooker sees O'Sullivan hitting the black to give Page a chance to force a re-spotted black.

Williams keeps himself in the match. Another couple and he will start worrying Allen.

Page pots three of the remaining reds, he still requires two snookers.

Allen left a red in the jaws and Williams looks set to narrow the lead.

A break of 66 leaves Page needing two snookers.

O'Sullivan moving with purpose now, wanting to ensure no further boost is given to his opponent.

A sparkling break of 142, his highest break as a professional, gives Page something to remember from this match. He joins Ricky Walden and Mark Williams making with the highest break of the championship so far.

Page ensures he will not be the third player to be whitewashed at the Crucible - and he should finish with a ton.

Page with a wonderful long pot to give himself first chance in this frame.

O'Sullivan pots the colours to confirm a 6-0 lead.

Page needing three snookers to send the match to a re-spotted black.

Allen pots green, brown and blue to win the frame and go one away from victory.

Page with his best break of the game, then he plays a good safety. That will give him some confidence.

After a couple of good pots, Williams leaves the last red in the jaws and that will be end of frame.

A third chance for O'Sullivan and that is more than enough usually, but he stalls once again, before playing a nasty, nasty snooker.

Page leaves O'Sulivan on and though the cue ball went on a weird flight path, O'Sullivan looked on for a big break before snookering himself on a colour.

Another war of attrition. Williams has narrowed the gap before playing safe.

O'Sullivan gets a red and colour but then plays safe.

Thirty years of Ronnie O'Sullivan centuries at the Crucible. 129 this time.

‘Another year, another century’ – O’Sullivan makes ton in dominant afternoon session

O'Sullivan has won the frame and looks set to score his first century.

Page a bit unlucky as snookered with a ball over the pocket, he tries to play in off the pack but goes in-off and leaves O'Sullivan with a nice looking table.

After a prolonged safety battle Allen has another chance to secure the frame.

Williams missed a long red by hitting it too hard and it looks like Allen may make him pay, but he falls out of position and the frame is up for grabs still.

An incredibly messy table but Williams has forced an error and has a chance to win his third frame of the session going into the interval.

The break stalls at 81 and O'Sullivan heads into the interval already possessing a big lead.

‘That’s a pity’ – O’Sullivan wins frame but misses out on century

The frame is won. Can he make his first ton of the week.

O'Sullivan is close to a four-nil lead at the interval.

O'Sullivan is close to a four-nil lead at the interval.

Allen gets over the line and is now only two frames from victory.

Williams has battled back to make the third frame a competitive one.

The same pattern for Page. Pots a red and a colour then misses the next red.

A Page miss gives O'Sullivan an opening but he lands off a red touching the blue and has to play safe.

O'Sullivan seals the frame with a 56. He is not at his fluent best but is three frames to the good already.

O’Sullivan pulls away from Page with another scintillating break

Allen with six reds and six blacks but then falls out of position.

O'Sullivan misses three attempts to get out of a snooker, clipping the pink twice.

A break of 52 comes to an end, giving Page a chance of taking the frame. He begins with a fantastic red into the left middle.

A break of 31 gives Williams the first two frames of the afternoon.

A poor attempt at getting out of a snooker has left O'Sullivan with a chance to build another score.

Page first at the table but for the third time he stumbles after potting a red and a colour.

We expected this match might be over soon but the second frame of the afternoon has seen them both bogged down with on a messy table. Williams now with a chance to build a lead though.

A red and pink is enough for O'Sullivan to go two-up.

O'Sullivan's break stalls but Page cannot take advantage and O'Sullivan has a chance to put the frame away.

Page had a chance after a poor safety from O'Sullivan but again after one red and colour he tripped up and the Rocket is back at the table.

O'Sullivan overscrews and plays safe back to baulk.

A fine long pot kicks O'Sullivan off in the second frame.

The break stalls at 85 but a great start from Williams.

O'Sulivan ends the frame with a break of 35.

A fine start from Williams sealing the first frame and could do so with a century.

O'Sullivan likely has the frame sealed but Page is playing on, maybe to get some practice on the table.

Page misses a straightforward red and now O'Sullivan looks set to seal the frame.

O'Sullivan fell out of position and missed a blue into the left middle with his left hand, Page now has a chance to win the first frame.

Page misses a long red and has left O'Sullivan a chance to build a big score straight away.

The Rocket's tilt for a record 8th world title will shortly be underway.

He opens his first-round match against Jackson Page. On the other side of the screen, Mark Allen continues his match with Robbie Williams 7-3 ahead.

One of the best matches we'll see at the Crucible this week. Great nerve from Lisowski potting two fantastic long reds in the final frame to help himself to victory. You have to feel sorry for Ding. He goes out in the first round for the fourth year on the trot.

A fantastic effort from Lisowski, he is now through to the second round.

Ding refuses a long red and Liswoski, from a similar position, takes it on and pots it and he has a great chance to win the match now.

What bad luck, Lisowski has snookered himself from the pink and black colour after going into the pack and the frame is still open.

Lisowski with a remarkable long red to give himself the first chance of reaching the second round.

A break of 109 in a frame he needed to win to stay in the tournament. Outstanding from Ding. His form looks ominous, but he is not through yet.

A fantastic break and this time he looks on to score the first hundred of the session, ahead of the deciding frame.

Ding is left a red to pot and then a fantastic pink gives him a chance to build a break.

Ding pots a great long red but the cue ball nestles in the pack and he has to play safe off a cushion onto a black.

This has the look of a Crucible classic.

Lisowski misses the type of long red he has been potting all match and two reds later, Ding has left him needing snookers.

A fine half century but after not being able to split the reds easily he plays a snooker.

Lisowski overscrews a red with his right hand and then misses a blue to the middle slighly hampered by the ball being on the side cushion. The pendulum swings back to Ding.

Lisowski misses a long red by a mile and leaves a red on, but inadvertently moves the pink and black to difficult positions. And now Ding misses an easy red with the rest!

Lisowski is now a frame from the second round.

Lisowski lost position but a remarkable double kept the break going and he has now clinched the frame.

An in-off gives Lisowski a chance and after a good long red he now is looking at an inviting table.

Ding finally nails a long pot and he has the first chance in the frame.

After a lengthy exchange including a four-cushion escape from Ding, the Chinese player pots the last red and goes on to clear up to win the frame.

I was a little premature. Lisowski needs two snookers but is playing on - as well he might.

This half century has secured the frame for Ding. This game has legs in it yet.

An aggressive shot to open the pack doesn't work out, but Ding flukes a red a couple of shots on and now has the balls in position to win the frame at this visit.

Lisowski misses a long pot and Ding now has a chance to build a score - albeit with the black on the bottom cushion.

Ding concedes, he secured one of the three snookers needed before fouling himself (that doesn't sound right). Lisowski is now two frames from victory.

Ding's long potting lets him down again. He misses the red from the D and then Lisowski pots it himself, plus the pink, to surely win the frame. Ding is playing on though.

An awful error from Lisowski hitting the blue when trying to swerve around to hit a red and now the frame is open once more.

The Green goes in-off giving Ding one of the snookers.

Ding pots a red but misses a yellow into the left middle. Lisowski then adds 20 to leave Ding needing two snookers.

Ding twice misses, attempting for a thin contact on a red on the bottom cushion.

Lisowski with an in-off but Ding misses his pot and is fortunate to leave nothing on.

Ding misses the pack of reds off the blue and it is end of break.

A very good 34, but Lisowski fell out of position after freeing the black and Ding potted a fantastic red into left middle to start a counter attack.

Lisowski negotiating a tricky table, with black blocked by a glut of reds, well at present.

Back on the table, Ding has the first minor breakthrough but we are now locked in a safety exchange.

The break ends on 84. And we pause for the mid-session interval.

While his long potting is lacking, when amongst the balls, Ding's play has been superb. He has reduced the deficit to one once more.

Lisowski with a very strange misjudgement hitting a black against a red en route to pocket and now Ding is in.

The long potting is the difference between the players at the moment. Ding is at 0% in this session. He misses another, leaves Lisowski a red and he is amongst the balls now.

Lisowksi secures the frame with a fantastic break of 63. Ding needs this next one before the interval.

Ding lost position and Lisowski is not at the table after another fine long pot.

After a couple of misses, Ding is at the table looking very comfortable.

Lisowski takes the 11th frame and now the divider has gone up and all the Crucible can watch this match - which could well go the distance.

Wilson falls on 88 after 11 perfect reds and blacks. A tricky black left him with a long red requiring some work on the cue ball for position and he jawed attempted pot. Still, he can be very pleased with his efforts in this match.

The match is won, but this is the least of his ambitions here.

He made it a bit difficult for himself, but a fantastic black and he his bang in position for the maximum once more.

Another fine long pot, but once more his positional play lets him down and the frame is still in the balance.

Four reds, four blacks, the balls could not be more perfectly situated for....you know what!

One good long red and Wilson is perfectly placed to get this game finished in the next few minutes.

A kick left him out of position and he has to play a safety to baulk.

Lisowski struck first with a fine long red and has opened up the pack - this looks like a strong frame-winning chance.

With a break of 65, Wilson is now just a frame away from the second round.

Dale makes 27 before missing a pink off the spot and Wilson has a great chance, with the balls perfectly situated, to win the frame.

Lisowski concedes after leaving a red over the pocket.

Lisowski is playing on needing two snookers.

After the poor start from both players, Ding has now secured the frame showcasing sublime cue ball control and could be on for a century.

Wilson immediately gets a break of 30 before falling out of position and playing safe.

After a number of misses from either player, Ding has finally potted a red and has a chance to build a score.

Thanks for joining this morning's coverage of the World Snooker Champinship. On the baize this morning, Jack Lisowski resumes 5-4 up against Ding Junhui, while former finalist Kyren Wilson looks to finish off against Dominic Dale, leading 8-1.

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