Ronnie O’Sullivan continues his bid for a record eighth title at the World Snooker Championship as he takes on the dangerous Pang Junxu at the Crucible.
The seven-time world champion will have recognised the threat posed by Chinese talent Pang, who made the semi-finals of the Northern Ireland Open earlier this season and beat compatriot Zhang Anda to reach round two, but the Rocket made a flying start to the last-16 encounter on Saturday afternoon. He won the first four frames before the mid-session interval of the opening session and although Pang finally got on the board in frame five, O’Sullivan went on to build an overnight 6-2 lead in the best-of-25 encounter.
The second session of the match takes place on Sunday afternoon, with play starting at 2.30pm, before the third and final session is on Monday evening, with 13 frames the target for a place in the quarter-finals.
O’Sullivan’s participation in Sheffield had been in doubt after The Rocket’s withdrawal from a number of events during the first months of the year, but the Englishman returned to the baize for a first-round meeting with old foe Ali Carter earlier this week. O’Sullivan looked in good touch, too, again getting the better of a regular, and heated, rival over the years to progress.
Follow all of the latest from the Crucible with our live blog below:
Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Pang Junxu LIVE
- Ronnie O'Sullivan continues World Championship campaign against Pang Junxu in the second round | Live on the BBC
- O'Sullivan builds a 6-2 lead at the end of the first session of the best-of-25 clash
- Seven-time world champion O'Sullivan defeated fierce foe Ali Carter in opening match at Crucible
- Latest score: Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-2 Pang Junxu (best-of-25)
Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-2 Pang Junxu - O'SULLIVAN WINS FRAME EIGHT
17:40 , Luke BakerAnd he does get the job done in the end. Cleans up the final few colours and Ronnie O’Sullivan wins frame eight
That’s a good first session for the Rocket as he’s in complete control of this second-round match.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-2 Pang Junxu
17:31 , Luke BakerWhat has Ronnie done here? Pots a red, there’s the yellow over the pocket but he screws the cueball back into the left middle!
Still, Pang now needs snookers at 63-27 behind and only one red left, meaning 35 points on O’Sullivan should be over the line shortly.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-2 Pang Junxu
17:28 , Luke BakerO’Sullivan tries to dislodge one of the final two reds on the left cushion but misses the cannon. Break ends at 23 and he’s 62-23 to the good. Leading by 39 points but with 43 still available.
Pang still alive in this frame, just...
Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-2 Pang Junxu
17:26 , Luke BakerBoth men squander chances early in the final frame of the afternoon. Pang makes 16 before breaking down, then O’Sullivan misses a pot when on 39 in response.
Pang pots a good red to get back in, before crunching a pink to middle and developing two reds on the side cushion. Great shot!
But from the sublime to the ridiculous. He then misses the red down the cushion. Still trails 39-23 and now O’Sullivan is back at the table with a chance to finish this off
Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-2 Pang Junxu
17:18 , Luke BakerPang has a long red to the right corner and his long game has been really good today. This one stays out though, hits both jaws and careens up the other end of the table.
It leaves Ronnie a mid-range red, which he slots but unlucky to no land on a colour - just one point.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-2 Pang Junxu
17:16 , Luke BakerBig, big frame in the context of the match, this. At 5-3 down, Pang would still be in the contest, especially as he’s been largely outplayed by O’Sullivan.
But if it’s 6-2, hard to see how Pang wins, even in a race to 13. Final frames of sessions so often determine momentum.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-2 Pang Junxu - PANG WINS FRAME SEVEN
17:14 , Luke BakerYou know what, that is a classy, classy clearance by Pang Junxu to snaffle frame seven. Holds his nerve and clears the table to win by a few points. It wasn’t an easy clearance but he took them well.
Pang Junxu wins frame seven to narrow the deficit to 5-2
Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-1 Pang Junxu
17:06 , Luke BakerWell, it’s Pang who gets back in when O’Sullivan misses an attempted long pot. Handful of reds left and this is a great opportunity for a clearance to snatch the frame. A couple of reds are trickily positioned though.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-1 Pang Junxu
17:04 , Luke BakerGreat pot on a long red up to the yellow pocket from O’Sullivan on 46 to keep the break going. But then a mistake!
He’s not made many today but the Rocket misses a pot and leaves Pang bang in among the balls. He’s 52-0 down when he comes to the table and it quickly goes wrong.
He’s hampered on a red at 52-8 and pots it to the corner but gets tied up with the black. It’s touching ball on the black, which means you have to declare which colour you want to play. Pang doesn’t, despite being asked by the ref so it’s four foul points to Ronnie. 59-9 to the seven-time world champion.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-1 Pang Junxu
16:59 , Luke BakerThis session is rattling by and frame seven may not last long either.
O’Sullivan thumps home a long-ish red and he’s right in among the balls. The break races beyond 20, 30, then 40.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-1 Pang Junxu - O'SULLIVAN WINS FRAME SIX
16:58 , Luke BakerPang’s efforts ultimately prove fruitless and the Rocket seals the frame to extend his lead to 5-1. Two still to play in this session
O’Sullivan wins frame six.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-1 Pang Junxu
16:48 , Luke BakerGood break by O’Sullivan - a classy 74 and he leads 74-33 with one red left. Pang needs snookers, 41 behind with only 35 on.
Pang miraculously escapes from one snooker and then puts Ronnie in a couple but O’Sullivan makes contact each time. He’s just trying to get over the line in this frame
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-1 Pang Junxu
16:40 , Luke BakerStart of a comeback for Pang or just a mere blip in the way of an unstoppable Ronnie charge?
The Chinese cueman will have to feel good about himself after that superb knock of 119.
He’s in again in frame six but he breaks down on 33 as he misses a red to the left corner and sticks it up for O’Sullivan. Not ideal.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-1 Pang Junxu - PANG WINS FRAME FIVE
16:38 , Luke BakerAnd Pang does what he needs to. Almost a total clearance, only misses the final black, and it’s a sublime break of 119. Exactly what he needed.
Pang wins frame five to finally get one on the board
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-0 Pang Junxu
16:26 , Luke BakerPang grinding away in this break. He moves 55 points ahead and plays a gentle shot into the bunch to free more reds. Well controlled.
Just a few pots away from getting his first frame on the board here...
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-0 Pang Junxu
16:20 , Luke BakerMassive, massive moments for Pang Junxu. He fashions himself a chance in frame five - he’s down the business end of the table with the black available to both corners and reds waiting.
Needs to win this frame at one visit, really. His lead moves to 29.
Mark Williams maintains lead over Hossein Vafaei
16:15 , Luke BakerOn the other side of the divide this afternoon, Mark Williams is taking on Hossein Vafaei in the final session of their second-round clash.
Veteran Welshman Williams led 9-7 heading into the session and they’ve split the first two frames, so it’s currently 10-8 in the race to 13.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-0 Pang Junxu - O'SULLIVAN WINS FRAME FOUR
16:00 , Luke BakerEffortless again from O’Sullivan and he’s showing no mercy here. Cruises over the line in frame four and Ronnie O’Sullivan takes a 4-0 lead into the mid-session interval!
He still looks like he’s got gears to move through here.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 3-0 Pang Junxu
15:56 , Luke BakerO’Sullivan up and running again now, back in the balls and building his lead. It moves beyond 40 points
Ronnie O'Sullivan 3-0 Pang Junxu
15:54 , Luke BakerO’Sullivan makes an early break of 13 before Pang is left a long red into the right corner.
He pots it and a good pot on the brown follows but no position on a red. He tries to playa safety shot but one of the reds at the bottom of the pack drifts into the left corner. Handy bonus.
But then misses a tough cut on the green to the left middle. Just six points
Ronnie O'Sullivan 3-0 Pang Junxu - RONNIE O'SULLIVAN WINS FRAME THREE
15:47 , Luke BakerIt’s O’Sullivan who gets back in and he makes no mistake as a classy break of 34 gets him over the line.
Pang Junxu has had chances in all three frames so far but hasn’t won any of them. Ronnie O’Sullivan moves into a 3-0 lead
Ronnie O'Sullivan 2-0 Pang Junxu
15:39 , Luke BakerPang ticking along nicely. Moves beyond 30 points, although there will be a tricky final red on the right cushion, just above the middle pocket.
Before he gets there, he’s got a testing mid-range red into the yellow pocket and fails the test. It rattles off both jaws and out. O’Sullivan returns to the table, leading 50-34 with two reds left. Safety exchange upcoming.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 2-0 Pang Junxu
15:36 , Luke BakerNice shot by Pang as he swerves round the pink and pots the red cushion-first. He hasn’t nicely landed on a colour though.
This is a very tough cut on the yellow ball to the corner and he gets it. Another good pot but he’s not on an easy red at all as the white heads to the side cushion.
Takes a risk, potting a really tricky red to the left corner and opening up all the remaining reds. He’s plum on the black and this is a big visit - he ahs to score heavily here
Ronnie O'Sullivan 2-0 Pang Junxu
15:33 , Luke BakerWe might be approaching vintage Ronnie O’Sullivan territory. He’s in again in frame three and looking so confident.
He reaches 43 and goes into the remaining cluster of reds off the black that takes him to 50. It’s not a perfect split and he’s left with a tricky cut to the left corner.
The red rattles the jaws and stays out! Pang comes back to the table trailing by 50 points but with plenty of reds left, although he is snookered on the pottable red to the corner.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 2-0 Pang Junxu
15:28 , Luke BakerPang needs to settle down and quickly get a frame on the board before it gets out of hand.- Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry, working as a pundit for the BBC, is already talking about the Rocket winning with a session to spare... That’s a shade premature, I’d say, but he is looking fully in stroke to be fair.
Both men miss long reds early in frame three.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 2-0 Pang Junxu - O'SULLIVAN WINS FRAME TWO
15:26 , Luke BakerWorrying signs for Pang as O’Sullivan ruthlessly punishes his error and wins the frame in one visit.
A couple of clever cannons and nice pots and he’s quickly over the line as he passes 66 points. The century is on here for the Rocket.
But the blue is in the baulk end, he can’t quite get on it nicely, so falls just short of the ton but Ronnie O’Sullivan wins frame two in style
Ronnie O'Sullivan 1-0 Pang Junxu
15:22 , Luke BakerPang in first again in frame two but he reaches 25 and then an odd shot selection means the break ends with a missed red.
O’Sullivan is straight in and quickly counter attacks. This looks ominous for the Chinese youngster
Ronnie O'Sullivan 1-0 Pang Junxu - O'SULLIVAN WINS FRAME 1
15:07 , Luke BakerO’Sullivan nearly gets over the line but a lapse in concentration means he doesn’t get on the final brown. He’s 22 points to the good with 22 left on and he’s forced to play safe.
But it’s a good safety shot and Pang can’t get it safe in return, so Ronnie rolls in the brown to clinch the frame. Pang plays on for snookers for a bit but eventually gives up and Ronnie O’Sullivan takes the opening frame of the match.
Bit scrappy, both men had chances, but it’s lift-off for the Rocket.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 0-0 Pang Junxu
15:01 , Luke BakerDecent start from underdog Pang as he builds up a 44-point lead although it takes him three separate breaks and he can’t kill the frame off in any of them.
O’Sullivan now earns a couple of chances and starts to close the gap. Fabulous shot, potting the yellow and cannoning into the pack. He’s soon just a couple of points behind and still going strong with two reds left
Ronnie O'Sullivan v Pang Junxu
14:46 , Luke BakerOh, here we go. Rob Walker introduces the players for the afternoon session and Ronnie O’Sullivan gets a huge Crucible roar from the crowd.
We’re ready to start this second-round match, a best of 25, meaning 13 frames are needed for victory. Pang breaks off in the first frame and immediately tucks the cueball in behind the brown
John Higgins v Xiao Guodong to resume later
14:21 , Luke BakerWe may be a few minutes late starting the afternoon session as one morning match at the Crucible overran.
Four-time world champion John Higgins was supposed to complete his second-round match with Xiao Guodong but with the score at 12-11 to Higgins (in a first to 13 contest) , the players have just been pulled off to let the afternoon session (including Ronnie O’Sullivan) start. Higgins and Xiao will return on whichever table finishes first this evening to play the remaining one or two frames.
They’ve got to get the morning session crowd out of the Crucible and bring the afternoon folk in, so Ronnie v Pang Junxu is unlikely to start right on time.
Coming up...
14:15 , Harry Latham-CoyleWhile our focus will be on Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Pang Junxu this afternoon, another member of the Class of ‘92 will also be at the table. Mark Williams resumes his second-round encounter with Hossein Vafaei with the match intriguingly poised at 9-7 to the Welshman - that one will reach a finish before the afternoon is out.
Barry Hearn issues ultimatum to ‘not fit for purpose’ Crucible over World Snooker Championship future
14:05 , Harry Latham-CoyleBarry Hearn has declared the Crucible Theatre “not fit for purpose” and said that the World Snooker Championship will leave the Sheffield venue in 2027 unless changes are made.
The contract to stage snooker’s premier annual tournament expires in 2027, with a relocation to a larger, more suitable venue long mooted.
Hearn, a former chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), has been heavily involved in discussions in his role as president of Matchroom Sport, a body that effectively controls the World Snooker Tour.
The Crucible has hosted the World Championship since 1977, but the 980-seat theatre has faced criticism for a lack of spectator and practice space in recent years.
And Hearn has insisted that facilities must be improved if the tournament is to remain at the venue.
Hearn issues ultimatum to Crucible over World Championship future
Mark Selby crashes out of World Snooker Championship in first round
13:50 , Harry Latham-CoyleAnd that followed four-time champion Mark Selby losing to training partner Ben Woollaston to make a shock first-round exit.
Mark Selby crashes out of World Snooker Championship in first round
Impressive Chris Wakelin dumps maximum man Mark Allen out of World Championship
13:40 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe draw is opening up intriguingly at the Crucible, with Mark Allen the latest big name to fall yesterday despite a magic maximum against Chris Wakelin...
Impressive Chris Wakelin dumps maximum man Mark Allen out of World Championship
World Snooker Championship 2025: Results, draw and schedule in full
13:15 , Harry Latham-CoyleWant to follow every twist and turn of this year’s World Snooker Championship? We’ve got you covered...
World Snooker Championship 2025: Results, draw and schedule in full
Ronnie O’Sullivan: ‘I was scared to go near a snooker table and I’ve lost my bottle’
13:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt did not at all appear certain that Ronnie O’Sullivan would be back to make a 33rd consecutive Crucible appearance after the Rocket’s late withdrawal from a number of events in recent weeks. Ahead of the tournament, Luke Baker sat down with the seven-time world champion to find out more about his struggles:
Ronnie O’Sullivan: ‘I was scared to go near a snooker table and I’ve lost my bottle’
Ronnie O’Sullivan was scared of having ‘a meltdown’ before opening win at Crucible
12:45 , Harry Latham-CoyleRonnie O’Sullivan revealed he was still ravaged by self-doubt despite completing a stunning demolition job on Ali Carter to secure his place in the second round of the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible.
The seven-time champion fired three centuries and two more breaks over 50 as he took just 67 minutes to turn a tight and error-strewn overnight lead into a stunning 10-4 triumph over the double former finalist.
Ronnie O’Sullivan was scared of having ‘a meltdown’ before opening win at Crucible
Ronnie O’Sullivan off to near-perfect start with emphatic win over Ali Carter
12:30 , Harry Latham-CoyleRonnie O’Sullivan made a mockery of his recent period of inactivity by reeling off three centuries in five frames as he completed a 10-4 win over Ali Carter in the first round of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.
The seven-time champion, who has not played on the professional tour since he crashed out of the Championship League in January, looked close to his best as he swiftly set up this last-16 clash against Pang Junxu.
Ronnie O’Sullivan off to near-perfect start with emphatic win over Ali Carter
Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Pang Junxu LIVE
11:44 , Harry Latham-CoyleRonnie O’Sullivan will be back on the baize this afternoon as The Rocket continues his pursuit of an eighth world title with a meeting with Pang Junxu. O’Sullivan looked in good touch as he returned to the table at the World Championship after a difficult start to 2025 with a win over Ali Carter - with a number of Crucible contenders already falling, can he keep it going?
