World Snooker Championship: Ronnie O'Sullivan progresses after early scare - reigning champion Mark Selby also triumphs

Snooker’s top two ranked players have both secured their place in the second round of the Snooker World Championship in Sheffield
England's Ronnie O'Sullivan in action against England's David Gilbert during day two of the Betfred World Snooker Championships at The Crucible, Sheffield. Picture date: Sunday April 17, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story SNOOKER World. Photo credit should read: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire.

RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder.England's Ronnie O'Sullivan in action against England's David Gilbert during day two of the Betfred World Snooker Championships at The Crucible, Sheffield. Picture date: Sunday April 17, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story SNOOKER World. Photo credit should read: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire.

RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder.
England's Ronnie O'Sullivan in action against England's David Gilbert during day two of the Betfred World Snooker Championships at The Crucible, Sheffield. Picture date: Sunday April 17, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story SNOOKER World. Photo credit should read: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only, no commercial use without prior consent from rights holder.

Ronnie O’Sullivan, currently the world number one, had a bit of a scare up against David Gilbert at the Crucible going 3-0 down in the early stages, but mounted a comeback and eventually ran out as a 10-5 winner to book his spot in the next round.

O’Sullivan’s victory was his 70th win at the venue, and he’ll now be watching with interest to see whether it’ll be Mark Allen or Scott Donaldson for him in the next round.

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Speaking after his win, the six-time world champion said, “I am out there playing, enjoying it and just trying to compete. It is like Gladiator, Russell Crowe has a hole in his arm and knows he is going to die but you just have to find a way. That is what winners and gladiators do.”

Meanwhile, the reigning champion, Mark Selby, wasn’t at his best as he went up against Jamie Jones, but managed three centuries to secure a 10-7 victory in the first round of the tournament, securing the first win of this year’s event.

Selby, who has spoken recently of his own mental health battles, is back playing after missing competitions in Gibraltar and Turkey, and admitted afterwards that he would have enjoyed his return even if it’d ended in defeat.

Elsewhere, Sheffield’s own Zhao Xintong got his first win at the Crucible after beating Jamie Clarke 7-2, Jackson Page overcame Barry Hawkins 10-7, and Stephen Maguire and Shaun Murphy were locked at 7-7 at the time of writing late on Sunday night.

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