Defeat for Ding despite Masters maximum against O'Sullivan

Ding Junhui enjoyed a scintillating 147 break during his first-round match against Ronnie O'Sullivan, but it was the Rocket who prevailed to advance to a 25th Masters quarter final.

The 36-year-old recorded just the fourth ever maximum in the tournament's history, and his second after achieving the feat as a teenager in 2007.

Ding overcame a tricky yellow and a pink with the rest, which wobbled in the pocket before it dropped, to record the seventh maximum of his career, but it resulted in a defiant response from the Rocket.

Kirk Stevens, in 1984, and Marco Fu nine years ago, are the only other players to hit a Masters maximum.

Ding trailed O'Sullivan 4-0 at the mid-session interval but pulled two frames back before his 147 left him trailing by one at 4-3.

The four-time winner of the competition responded in style, reeling off breaks of 127 and 93 to seal a 6-3 victory.