After more than three months without competitive action, Ronnie O'Sullivan was swiftly back into his groove as he made four centuries in a 10-4 victory over Ali Carter in the first round of the Halo World Championship.
Other than a brief appearance at the Championship League in January, O'Sullivan hadn't played at all in 2025 until Tuesday. He looked vulnerable in the opening session against Carter and was fortunate to finish 5-4 ahead, but in today's second session it was a marvellous display as he fired breaks of 50, 59, 117, 74, 123 and 131, reeling off five frames in a row in just 67 minutes.
Making a record 33rd consecutive Crucible appearance, the 49-year-old is through to the second round for the 29th time and will meet Pang Junxu over 25 frames on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. He may play down expectations, but on today's form he could be hard to stop in his quest for an eighth world title which would put him one ahead of Stephen Hendry.
Having tinkered with technique in recent years, and broken his cue during that Championship League outing, O'Sullivan revealed today that he has a two-year plan to rebuild his game, and having found a new cue he has joined the growing number of top players using a titanium ferrule rather than brass.
"I am trying to get away from what I know is the problem. It got to the point where I couldn't watch myself play because I could see what was wrong but I didn't know how to correct it, "said world number five O'Sullivan, whose last title was the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker in March 2024. "I am working on that and at the moment it feels really strange. When I first rebuilt my game in 2000 with (coach) Frank Adamson it took a year before it felt great. That's what I have to do again. I need to create space so I can get the cue through.
"There was a time where I wasn't able to pull the cue back and forwards, which was scary. I had that before years ago and managed to play my way out of it. This time, where I have changed my alignment and certain things, years of that have mounted up and I have lost all connection with the cue - my timing, touch and feeling have gone. I am going to give myself two years. There will be no more exhibitions or distractions off the table. I will help out at the academy in Saudi Arabia, I enjoy the work I am doing there and hopefully we can do something similar in the UK because my true love is to help people and give back. That helps me to learn from other people. Otherwise it will just be tournaments and getting fit."
As for the match against Carter, O'Sullivan added: "My expectation level was just to try to win a few frames so I didn't feel any pressure. When I have come in the past with my game half decent I feel more pressure because I know its a chance to go deep. This game can humble you. Just to be out there and play one good session was a nice feeling. I feel like I've had a victory just winning a match."
Carter, who was runner-up to O'Sullivan in the 2008 and 2012 finals, said: "I'm disappointed with how I performed. He played fabulously well, sometimes you have to just sit there and watch it. He is the greatest player of all time, he could have ten years off and still play like that, he's just a freak natural talent. Overall it has been a positive season for me, hopefully I'm back in the top 16 and I've got something to build on."
On the other table, 2023 World Champion Luca Brecel rallied from 5-1 down to trail Ryan Day just 5-4 at the end of their first session.
Currently ranked seventh, Brecel needs to win the title to keep his place in the top 16 and is projected to finish the season 48th in the Johnstone’s Paint World Rankings, having struggled for results over the two years since lifting the trophy.
Day came through qualifying to appear in the final stages for the 16th time. He seemed to be in total command as breaks of 126, 67 and 61 helped him to that 5-1 lead. However, Brecel hit back with 104, 54 and 86 to take three consecutive frames and end one behind. They return on Thursday at 1pm with the winner to meet Ding Junhui in the last 16.