2024 International Championship Snooker: Day one report as Ronnie O'Sullivan wins on tour return

Seven-time World Champion O’Sullivan marked his return to the professional circuit with a 6-3 victory over a gallant Mink Nutcharut to reach round two in the Far East.

Playing his first match on the World Snooker Tour in several weeks, O’Sullivan fell behind early on to the former World Women’s Snooker Champion, but a break of 124 in frame two got him level, before he took control of the tie by depositing the next three frames (breaks of 89 and 61) to move 4-1 up.

Thai cueist Mink - who is currently the number one player on the World Women’s Snooker Tour - showed resilience and determination, though, as she claimed consecutive frames to go just one behind at 4-3 and put some real jeopardy back into the contest.

However, O’Sullivan finished strong and in style, freezing out his young opponent with runs of 69 and a 132 total clearance to complete his opening assignment in this £825,000 ranking event.

Next up for O’Sullivan in the last 64 is an intriguing tie with He Guoqiang - last season’s Rookie of the Year and a player that has defeated him twice this season.

Fresh from his triumph at the Northern Ireland Open last week, Wilson continued his brilliant sequence of results as he whitewashed Mitchell Mann, 6-0, to progress into round two.

In the morning session, Hossein Vafaei recovered from 3-0 down, crafting a break of 104 during a 6-4 comeback win against wildcard Zheng Dian.

There were also round one victories for Si Jiahui and David Grace; Grace was in fine scoring nick as he totted a 107 and five further breaks over 50.

During the afternoon session, along with those wins from O'Sullivan and Wilson, Ali Carter and Noppon Saengkham (119 break) both got the better of wildcard opposition.

Defending champion Zhang Anda survived a huge scare against Ishpreet Singh Chadha, coming through a deciding frame on the final pink ball.

Having gone two nil down to India's number one professional, Zhang deposited four consecutive frames (131 break - frame five). Singh Chadha took two of the next three frames before the match was pulled off to make way for the afternoon session.

Returning several hours later in the evening session, Singh Chadha forced a decider and led the eleventh frame before Zhang mopped up the final three reds and the colours up to and including the pink for a narrow 6-5 victory.

Also in the final session of the day, home hero Ding Junhui rounded off a 6-0 whitewash over Reanne Evans with a 124.

Round two begins in Nanjing

As well as the nine first round matches which were held over to the main venue in Asia, the second round also got underway on Sunday.

Xu Si ousted teenager Stan Moody, 6-5, to advance into the last 32, while Lyu Haotian recovered from 4-2 down to deny professional rookie Haydon Pinhey, 6-4.

Jiang Jun and Matthew Stevens both won via deciding frames. Jiang (103 break) pipped Amir Sarkhosh and Stevens won the final three frames - a streak he began with a run of 140 - as he denied Q School top up Simon Blackwell.

Xiao Guodong - the latest first-time winner of a ranking event when he triumphed at the Wuhan Open last month - swept aside Ricky Walden 6-0 with the help of breaks of 71, 80 and 130.

On the cusp of the world's top 16 for the first time in his career, 35-year-old Xiao would avoid having to qualify for the main venue stages of the UK Championship in York should he break into the sport's elite bracket.

John Higgins - a former winner of this title - was 3-0 down to Ben Woollaston before chalking up six of the next seven frames for a 6-4 win, highlighted by a contribution of 117 in frame seven.

In a match which both players made two centuries, Jamie Clarke struck breaks of 111 and 100 in establishing a 4-2 advantage, although Mark Selby fashioned a 112 and 114 in successive frames to level before securing the next two frames for a 6-4 verdict.

Gary Wilson top scored with a 106 in a 6-4 success against Dean Young.

Ryan Day, Robbie Williams and Pang Junxu were also victors; Pang shaded Elliot Slessor in a decider. Chris Wakelin received a walkover against Zak Surety.

For full details on the 2024 International Championship, including the draw, results, format, prize money and how to watch, please visit our tournament information centre here