Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump win latest matches at Snooker Superstar Invitational

Following the opening sessions of the high-profile showcase on Wednesday, day two began with world number one Trump ousting good friend Jack Lisowski in a black ball deciding frame.

Lisowski started out strong as he established a 2-0 advantage along with breaks of 76 and 96; the latter effort was a maximum attempt. Trump got on the board via the final pink in frame three and then went into the mid-session interval level with his opponent following a contribution of 72 in frame four.

On resumption, Trump took the lead for the first time after stringing together 14 reds and 14 blacks before missing on 112 when trying to pot the final red with check side in order to obtain position on the black.

In the next, Trump once again threatened a perfect frame, but this 147 effort was cut on 88 when he failed to pot a red with the rest. It was his fourth consecutive frame, though, and he was first to reach the hill at 4-2 up.

Six-time ranking event finalist Lisowski responded with the next two frames; breaks of 57 and 51 helped him take the tie all the way.

In an exciting decider, Lisowski was on the cusp on victory, but he missed a red whilst on a run of 68. Trump clawed his way back into contention and eventually got the 5-4 win on the final black.

O’Sullivan - who defeated Ding Junhui the day before - took centre stage for the evening session in the Far East as he faced fellow ‘Class of 92’ exponent John Higgins.

A 56 break aided O’Sullivan to the opening frame but Higgins replied with a 102 to square up proceedings. Efforts of 53 and 109, though, from The Rocket saw him head into the interval 3-1 up, before he later deposited the fifth frame to go one away from the five-frame target.

Higgins was on his way to doubling his frame count for the match in frame six, but he miscued whilst on a break of 53. Later in the frame, O’Sullivan counter cleared with exactly 50 to record a 5-1 victory.

In ten days time, reigning champion O’Sullivan gets his Masters title defence underway against Higgins in the opening match of the tournament at the Alexandra Palace in London on Sunday 12th January.

Following a string of appearances at the Macau Snooker Masters between Christmas and New Year, O’Sullivan finishes his exhibition stint in Asia with a seven-match, 100% winning record.

Mark Williams v Xiao Guodong and Ding v Trump are the matches set for the third and final day of action in Hangzhou.

YouTube coverage of day two’s matches from China can be viewed here and here.