Ronnie O’Sullivan pounces on Pang Junxu errors to take commanding lead in World Snooker Championship opener

Ronnie O’Sullivan started his quest for a record eighth World Championship crown by building a commanding 6-3 lead over Pang Junxu in the opening session of their first-round match at the Crucible. The world No. 1 arrived in Sheffield without a ranking title to his name this season, but he picked off his error-strewn opponent to leave him needing just four frames when the pair play to a finish from 19:00 BST later on Saturday.

Ad Pang briefly defied his debutant status with a composed 50 break in the first frame but his challenge quickly unravelled. Although O’Sullivan under-hit his first pot of the tournament, he was soon motoring along and – after a brief breakdown on the colours – pinched the opener. Just 70 more and he would be world champion again.

World ChampionshipExclusive: O'Sullivan ready for 15 more years, targets World Championship at 55AN HOUR AGO The Chinese youngster was in again in the second frame but botched the simplest of blacks to invite O’Sullivan to the table. The Rocket looked to have the frame in the bag until an unfortunate kiss allowed Pang back in, but it only delayed him doubling his lead. Pang was starting to miss with alarming regularity but he took his second long-range opportunity in the third frame to hint at improving fortunes.

But it was O’Sullivan who got amongst the balls and a break of 61 was enough, even if Pang returned get some much-needed table time chasing five snookers. “That’s more like it,” cried Joe Johnson on Eurosport commentary as Pang arrowed home a long red into the top pocket after O’Sullivan had missed an easy black. But his break ended after an aggressive shot into the middle pocket cannoned off the jaws, before another chance came and went when he missed with the