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Paul Ryding

Two Chinese players were in action in the first round of play on the opening day of the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible in Sheffield on Saturday.
Liang Wenbo, the Chinese No 5 and 2016 English Open champion, trails former world champion Neil Robertson 3-6 after the opening session of play. All first round matches are best of 19.
The Australian flew out of the traps and was always in front. There was a glimmer of a fightback in the final frame of the day; Liang cleared a superb 126 to get within three frames of the 2010 world champion.
Elsewhere, the reigning Masters champion Yan Bingtao was locked in a tight match against England’s Martin Gould with the clash deadlocked at 4-4 after the opening session.
Five Chinese players learn first round opponents; Ding Junhui faces 2015 champion Stuart Bingham
In a back-and-forth match, Yan was off to a quick start before being pegged back by the 39-year-old Gould. Yan secured the final frame of the day to make it all square heading into the second day of the match.
Meanwhile, defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan made light work of Crucible debutant Mark Joyce, dispatching the 37-year-old Walsall man.

O’Sullivan hit his stride towards the end of the match and hit consecutive clearances of 124, 137 and 112 to seal the match.
After a low-quality opening session, it was vintage O’Sullivan to seal the match as he became only the eighth player to make three consecutive Crucible centuries.
Marco Fu caught in crossfire over World Snooker Tour wild card for 2021-22 season
“I was pleased I played all right towards the end. It was disastrous until then,” O’Sullivan said.
“It was great to have the crowd in there, they miss their snooker and I probably would have given up mentally in that match if there was no crowd there.”
The world No 2’s match marked the first time spectators had been allowed into a sporting event in the UK in 2021, but earlier on Saturday, O’Sullivan reported being “harassed” by a fan while having lunch in Sheffield.


“I was harassed like you wouldn’t believe it,” O’Sullivan said. “Ninety-nine per cent of the people are fine but it’s just the odd one who was a bit boozed up and having a mental one. 
“It was so busy and this geezer was a nightmare. He was ****** up and coming at me and I was like, ‘mate, please.’ What can you do? I’ve got to stay indoors and stay away.”
In round two O’Sullivan will face the winner of the match between Scotland’s Anthony McGill and Englishman Ricky Walden, which gets underway today.


World Grand Prix: Ben Woollaston falls just short after eleventh-hour dash to Hong Kong

Ding Junhui ‘excited’ to end his Hong Kong exile at snooker’s World Grand Prix

Hong Kong is hosting a world-class snooker tournament: here’s what you need to know

Ronnie O’Sullivan withdraws from snooker World Grand Prix in Hong Kong

World Snooker

World Snooker Championship: Liang Wenbo trails Neil Robertson, Ronnie O’Sullivan dumps out debutant Mark Joyce

Liang Wenbo plays a shot during his Betfred World Snooker Championship round one match against Neil Robertson. Photo: George Wood/Getty Images

Ronnie O’Sullivan made round two of the Betfred World Snooker Championship after easily defeating Mark Joyce at Crucible Theatre. Photo: George Wood/Getty Images

World Snooker Championship: Liang Wenbo dumped out by world No 2 Robertson; Yan Bingtao in control

Yan Bingtao of China has all but secured his passage into round two of the World Championship in Sheffield. Photo: VCG/VCG via Getty Images

World Snooker Championship: Yan Bingtao survives scare to progress, faces world’s best Trump in round 2

Yan Bingtao had to fend off a stunning comeback from Elliot Slesson in the first round of the World Snooker Championship on Monday evening. Photo: VCG/VCG via Getty Images

World Snooker Championship: Ronnie O’Sullivan leads 10-7 into final day as Kyren Wilson fights back

Ronnie O’Sullivan and Kyren Wilson will resume their match for the World Snooker Championship trophy at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. Photo: Reuters

World Snooker Championship: Ding Junhui and Ronnie O’Sullivan deadlocked in epic tussle

Ding Junhui and Ronnie O’Sullivan are tied at 8-8 in their second round match at the World Snooker Championship. Photo: YouTube

World Snooker Championship: Ronnie O’Sullivan under pressure as Mark Williams dominates quarter-final

Ronnie O’Sullivan trails Mark Williams in the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship. Photo: Twitter/@WeAreWST

Sport

China

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China’s Liang Wenbo 3-6 down against Australian Neil Robertson
Ronnie O’Sullivan makes easy work of Mark Joyce



China’s Liang Wenbo 3-6 down against Australian Neil Robertson while Masters champion Yan Bingtao is level with Martin Gould.


World Snooker Championship: Liang Wenbo trails Neil Robertson, Ronnie O’Sullivan dumps out debutant Mark Joyce

China’s Liang Wenbo 3-6 down against Australian Neil Robertson Ronnie O’Sullivan makes easy work of Mark Joyce

China’s Liang Wenbo 3-6 down against Australian Neil Robertson

Ronnie O’Sullivan makes easy work of Mark Joyce