Ronnie O'Sullivan eased to the brink of a record-extending 23rd World Snooker Championship quarter-final after making short work of opponent Pang Junxu in the second session of their second-round match at the Crucible.
O'Sullivan was seldom required to reach top gear as he turned a 6-2 overnight lead into a 12-4 advantage, which leaves him requiring just one more frame on Monday evening to confirm his return to the last eight.
Playing in his first tournament since January, the seven-times champion often looked far from happy with his form, but still fired back-to-back centuries en route to establishing a seemingly unassailable lead over his outclassed 25-year-old opponent.
Pang had briefly stirred, winning the first two frames upon the resumption and fleetingly threatening to launch a comeback to match his recovery in their first round meeting in 2023, when he hit back from 9-4 down to win three frames in a row.
But frequent errors would cost the Chinese player any chance of making any further impression, and O'Sullivan swiftly restored his four-frame advantage with successive half-centuries to go in 8-4 in front at the mid-session interval.
Looking increasingly ill at ease, Pang failed to muster a point in the next two frames, as a back-to-back hundreds too O'Sullivan further clear, and taking the next two made Monday's final session a formality.
Monday evening's ticket holders can expect to be short-changed as former champion Luca Brecel will also come back requiring a single frame to complete a comprehensive win over Ding Junhui.
Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Pang Junxu - LIVE updates
- Ronnie O'Sullivan continues World Championship against Pang Junxu in second round
- O'Sullivan built a 6-2 lead after the first session of the best-of-25 clash - eight frames this afternoon
- Seven-time world champion O'Sullivan defeated fierce foe Ali Carter in opening match at Crucible
- End-of-session score: Ronnie O'Sullivan 12-4 Pang Junxu (best of 25)
O'Sullivan in full control against Pang
17:49 , Lawrence OstlereThat’s it from our snooker coverage today, after Ronnie O'Sullivan eased to the brink of a record-extending 23rd World Snooker Championship quarter-final after making short work of opponent Pang Junxu in the second session of their second-round match at the Crucible.
Thanks for reading, and we’ll be back tomorrow with more from the Crucible.
O'Sullivan wins frame 16! Ronnie O'Sullivan 12-4 Pang Junxu
17:24 , Lawrence OstlereO’Sullivan wins a scrappy frame to move to within one of the quarter-finals, and that’s the end of the session. This has been an impressive afternoon’s work, although the seven-time champion might need to find another gear if he is to go all the way and lift the trophy next weekend.
The match will resume on Monday evening with Pang needing to win all nine remaining frames.
O'Sullivan wins frame 15! Ronnie O'Sullivan 11-4 Pang Junxu
17:08 , Lawrence OstlereMore pain for Pang, who runs out of position with the frame in his grasp, leading by five points with two reds remaining. O’Sullivan returns to the table and punishes the mistake – now he leads by seven.
O'Sullivan wins frame 14! Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-4 Pang Junxu
16:28 , Lawrence OstlereBack-to-back centuries! Brilliant by O’Sullivan, who has found his groove this afternoon after a shaky start to the session. He’s only three frames from the quarter-finals.
O'Sullivan wins frame 13! Ronnie O'Sullivan 9-4 Pang Junxu
16:22 , Lawrence OstlereO’Sullivan hits his first century of this match and he’s taken complete control of this last-16 clash now.
O'Sullivan wins frame 12! Ronnie O'Sullivan 8-4 Pang Junxu
15:53 , Lawrence OstlereA blow for Pang before the mid-session interval as O’Sullivan makes a telling half-century to extend his lead to four frames once more.
O'Sullivan wins frame 11! Ronnie O'Sullivan 7-4 Pang Junxu
15:33 , Lawrence OstlereO’Sullivan rattles off a break of 79 to restore his lead to three frames, and that is more like the seven-time champion we are so used to seeing.
Pang wins frame 10! Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-4 Pang Junxu
15:27 , Lawrence OstlerePang takes advantage of a loose break-off by O’Sullivan, and although he only adds 19 to the scoreboard, he’s soon back with another couple of chances to wrap up the frame. He does so, and O’Sullivan looks a little stunned by this opening.
Pang wins frame nine! Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-3 Pang Junxu
14:59 , Lawrence OstlereO’Sullivan misses a couple of balls to allow Pang a look in this first frame of the afternoon, and the opportunity is taken with a clearance of 87. Pang lost control of the cue ball a couple of times but recovered position well to reduce the deficit to three frames.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-2 Pang Junxu
14:40 , Lawrence OstlereO’Sullivan and Pang shake hands, and the Chinese player steps up to break in frame nine.
Ronnie O'Sullivan v Pang Junxu
14:22 , Luke BakerWe’re about 10 minutes away from the players being welcomed back out on to the baize by human Energizer Bunny, Rob Walker.
O’Sullivan has a 6-2 lead over Pang Junxu, while Luca Brecel and Ding Junhui will be continuing their second-round contest on the other side of the wall
Ronnie O'Sullivan v Pang Junxu
14:05 , Luke BakerIt was a dream first session in this match for the seven-time world champion yesterday
Barry Hearn issues ultimatum to ‘not fit for purpose’ Crucible over World Snooker Championship future
13:45 , Luke BakerBarry 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
13:30 , Luke BakerAnd 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
13:15 , Luke BakerThe draw is opening up intriguingly at the Crucible, with Mark Allen the latest big name to fall on Friday 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
12:58 , Luke BakerWant 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’
12:45 , Luke BakerIt 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
12:40 , Luke BakerRonnie 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
12:35 , Luke BakerRonnie 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 beginning to fire with dominant start against Pang Junxu
12:31 , Luke BakerRonnie O’Sullivan was in control against Pang Junxu as the seven-time winner finished the first session of their World Snooker Championship last-16 match with a 6-2 lead.
O’Sullivan claimed each of the first four frames, posting breaks of 58, 91, 50 and 63, before China’s No 27 Pang got off the mark by registering the contest’s first century break, making a 119.
The ‘Rocket’ swiftly hit back to secure frame six and after Pang took frame seven, O’Sullivan concluded the session by re-establishing a four-frame advantage to take into Sunday’s resumption.
Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Pang Junxu LIVE
Saturday 26 April 2025 20:37 , Luke BakerRonnie 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.
It’s the second session of their best-of-25 match, with O’Sullivan having built a 6-2 lead overnight. Can he break the back of the contest before Monday evening’s finale?
