Five-star Ronnie O'Sullivan wins all his matches at high-profile Macau Snooker Masters 2024

The four-day exhibition event (December 25-28) - which featuring eight of the world's top snooker professionals - took place at the Wynn Palace Grand Theater in Macau and was organised by Wynn Resort and supported by the Macau Government Tourism Office and Sports Bureau.

At the inaugural Macau Snooker Masters staging this time last year, Mark Williams defeated Jack Lisowski 9-6 in the final to claim the title.

This second edition of the event used a different format to the straight-knockout system in 2023. On this occasion, there was a series of predetermined matches, with Wynn Brand Ambassador O'Sullivan playing in all but two of them.

Despite the star-studded field, though, the event was not part of the World Snooker Tour and therefore not officially recognised as a professional tournament.

Seven-time World Champion O'Sullivan began his time in Macau with a 5-4 victory over Jack Lisowski, registering breaks of 118 and 139 in the process. Lisowski - who made a 147 in last year's final - also hit a 118, and was on for a maximum before missing a black whilst on 97.

Over the next two days, O'Sullivan scored a 139 as he defeated Marco Fu 5-3, and fashioned a 104 in a 5-2 success over Si Jiahui. Chinese youngster Si - who is set to make his Masters debut next month - compiled a 141 in the same match.

On the fourth and final day, record 41-time ranking event champion O'Sullivan played in back-to-back matches against fellow World Champion opposition.

Against the current 'Crucible King' Kyren Wilson - who replaced Jak Jones in this fixture after the Welshman withdrew due to personal reasons - O'Sullivan went one down after Wilson crafted a break of 106 in the opening frame.

Efforts of 98, 131 and 89 put O'Sullivan 3-1 ahead before Wilson made a counter clearance of 59 in frame five to pinch it on the final black. However, runs of 135 and 112 from 'The Rocket' in the next two frames secured him a 5-2 victory.

In the final fixture of the event, 2015 World Champion Stuart Bingham deposited the first frame and was well placed to go 2-0 up before O'Sullivan countered with a 77 as he levelled.

O'Sullivan then went on a four-frame burst of big scoring, rattling in breaks of 134, 116, 80 and another 116 to get a 5-1 verdict and finish the event with a 100% winning record.

Of course, this exhibition was dressed as an event, and appeared to have generous conditions which were very conducive to scoring, but these victories may give O'Sullivan some momentum and confidence heading into the new year and the upcoming defence of his Masters crown at the Alexandra Palace.

It has been a frustrating season, so far, for O'Sullivan who has yet to reach an event final on the official professional circuit.

Elsewhere at the 2024 Macau Snooker Masters, Marco Fu constructed a maximum 147 break during his 5-4 win over Wilson on day three.

Results from the 2024 Macau Snooker Masters:

Wednesday 25th December

• Ding Junhui 1-5 Judd Trump (130)
• (118, 139) Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-4 Jack Lisowski (118)

Thursday 26th December

• (139) Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-3 Marco Fu

Friday 27th December

• (104) Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-2 Si Jiahui (141)
• (147, 115) Marco Fu 5-4 Kyren Wilson (115)

Saturday 28th December

• (131, 135, 112) Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-2 Kyren Wilson (106)
• (134, 116, 116) Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-1 Stuart Bingham

Century breaks are in brackets next to the respective players who made them in that match