Ronnie O'Sullivan wins opening match on Tempodrom return after nine-year absence

Seven-time world champion O’Sullivan was making his first appearance on the World Snooker Tour in eight weeks since his UK Championship first round exit at the start of December.

The Englishman had been scheduled to play in the Masters earlier this month, but withdrew from the competition held at the Alexandra Palace in London a couple of days before it began due to medical reasons.

At times it was a rusty performance against Long, but O’Sullivan largely looked in good nick amongst the balls on Tuesday afternoon in the capital.

Their first meeting on the Tour, O’Sullivan won the opening frame courtesy of a 63 break before doubling his lead. World number 54 Long had been disappointing, but settled in during frame three, getting on the scoreboard and finding some rhythm with a run of 56.

A semi-finalist at last season’s Wuhan Open, 29-year-old Long then had the chance to steal the fourth frame (55 break, O’Sullivan) by a point, but after potting a brilliant penultimate red, he missed the subsequent black and conceded.

On resumption after the break, ‘The Rocket’ took the next two frames having trailed in both - winning the fifth on the final pink, and wrapping up victory with an effort of 93, his highest contribution of the match.

O’Sullivan wants history to repeat itself at the Tempodrom

Not only was it O’Sullivan’s first appearance of 2026, it was his first at the Tempodrom in nine years. After failing to qualify, withdrawals, and non-entries, his most recent engagement at the iconic venue had been in 2017, and his last match win there was in 2015 when he made the quarter-finals.

The 50-year-old - who is currently ranked eighth in the world - will be hoping history repeats itself on the baize this week in Berlin.

In 2012, O’Sullivan famously won the German Masters title here, ending a near two-and-a-half year wait for a ranking title.

It was a result that many use as a reference point in his career; a few months later he secured a fourth world title at the Crucible, and successfully defended the sport’s biggest prize 12 months later.

The record 41-time ranking event winner has not won a ranked title on the professional circuit in over two years, with his last glory coming at the World Grand Prix in January 2024.

He came close to ending that drought last August when he lost in a deciding frame in the final of the Saudi Arabia Masters to Neil Robertson, but ended the year without a trophy of any description, the first time that had happened since 2015.

Next up for O’Sullivan at this week’s £550,400 event is Ali Carter on Wednesday night.

Elsewhere during the afternoon session at the Tempodrom, there were strong performances from former winners of this title, Zhao Xintong and Mark Selby.

Reigning world champion Zhao fashioned breaks of 77, 125, 64 and 104 in a 5-0 win, while current UK champion Selby crafted runs of 115, 74, 56, 124 and 80 in a 5-1 victory.

Scott Donaldson caused a mini upset in eliminating world number 17 Gary Wilson, 5-1, scoring breaks of 73, 78, 87 and 60 en route to progressing.

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 German Masters, visit here.