Ronnie O’Sullivan reaches Welsh Open second round with rapid win over James Cahill but Mark Williams goes out

Ronnie O’Sullivan bounced back in style with a swift 4-0 victory over James Cahill in the first round of the Welsh Open. Two days after losing the European Masters final 10-9 to Fan Zhengyi, O’Sullivan was back in action in Newport.

Ad/> He opened with breaks of 53 and 83 to take a 2-0 lead, and finished with a 90 to book a second-round meeting with Lukas Kleckers. Welsh OpenWelsh Open 2022 LIVE – O'Sullivan through, Williams on now, Robertson and Trump play this evening8 HOURS AGO World number four Neil Robertson also progressed serenely — to the third round — but there was no such success for Mark Williams, who succumbed to Norwegian Kurt Maflin in a decider to exit the tournament.

O’Sullivan may have led the head-to-head 4-1 going into his meeting with Cahill, but it was the latter's famous 10-8 victory over ‘The Rocket’ at the 2019 World Championship that will have reminded the world No. 2 of his opponent’s capability to cause an upset.

Cahill had the first opening of the match after O’Sullivan’s first break clipped the blue, but he was only able to post eight on the board. A safety error from Cahill then gifted O’Sullivan with a chance to seal the frame, and though he needed two visits a 53 was enough to edge in front.

Welsh Open 2022 LIVE – O'Sullivan, Trump, Williams, Robertson among stars in action ‘One of the biggest shocks’ – Snooker world rocked by ‘incredible’ O’Sullivan loss The joy that O'Sullivan still provides is needed now more than ever Another safety exchange went O’Sullivan’s way in the second frame, and he punished Cahill with a rapid 83 after splitting the reds early on. A superb long red helped O’Sullivan get going in the third frame, but his break of 47 was halted when a pink failed to drop into