International Championship 2024: Ronnie O'Sullivan out, Judd Trump through in chaotic afternoon session


Ronnie O'Sullivan - who has returned to competitive action following a seven-week absence from the World Snooker Tour - is out of the event following a 6-4 defeat to home hero Pang Junxu.
Seven-time World Champion O'Sullivan battled back from 4-2 down to level the round three tie, but Pang - a recent semi-finalist at the Northern Ireland Open - finished in superb style, freezing his opponent out with breaks of 120 and 123 in successive frames.
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The effort of 120 in frame nine was a 147 attempt; having potted an amazing 15th black from distance, Pang was unable to sink a long yellow that was on a side cushion.
Pang will face Jackson Page in Wednesday's last 16 after the Welsh youngster saw off Ali Carter, 6-4, in what was a repeat of the Championship League Ranking Event final from earlier this season.
Six-time ranking event champion Carter hit a 101 as he squared proceedings up at 4-4 from 4-2 down, but Page made 53 and 101 in the final two frames to go through and get some revenge for that Championship League loss which was his maiden ranking event final appearance.
World number one Judd Trump fell at this stage last year and was in trouble again when he trailed Joe O'Connor in their encounter.
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O'Connor registered runs of 136 and 127 before the mid-session interval and later took control at 4-2 up. However, unlike O'Sullivan and Carter, Trump recovered from that particular scoreline, digging in and stringing together four consecutive frames to keep alive his hopes of a record third International Championship crown.
In total, five career Triple Crown winners were in action during the star-studded session at the Nanjing Qinhuai District South New City National Fitness Centre, but two of those exited the tournament.
As well as O'Sullivan, Shaun Murphy is making plans for his return home following a 6-3 loss at the hands of Chris Wakelin.
Former Snooker Shoot Out winner Wakelin - one of the professional tour's most improved players in recent years and in contention for a top 16 spot - totted up efforts of 116 and 102.
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John Higgins top scored with a 133 in a 6-1 victory over Matthew Stevens, and Mark Selby got the better of Noppon Saengkham, 6-3.
There were two deciding frame finishes during the afternoon programme in the Far East with mixed fortunes for top 16 cueists.
World number 12 Gary Wilson recovered from 4-1 down to Robbie Williams, fashioning a break of 125 in frame 10 to force a decider which he came out on the correct side of. Wilson meets Selby, next.
In a contest between two of the best players on the pro circuit yet to have won a ranking event, Jack Lisowski (118 break, frame nine) claimed three of the final four frames to oust world number 13 Si Jiahui, 6-5.
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The final batch of last 32 fixtures take place later today in Nanjing.
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