Ronnie O’Sullivan recovered from 2-0 down to advance at the International Championship with a 6-2 win over Sanderson Lam.

Ronnie O’Sullivan recovered from 2-0 down to advance at the International Championship with a 6-2 win over Sanderson Lam.

 

Ronnie O’Sullivan produced another reminder of his enduring brilliance as he recovered from a slow start to defeat Sanderson Lam 6–2 in the first round of the International Championship in Tianjin, China. The world number one, chasing his fourth ranking title of the season, had to dig deep after losing the opening two frames but soon found his rhythm to reel off six consecutive frames and book his place in the last 32.

Lam, ranked outside the world’s top 50, began the match with confidence and composure, taking full advantage of O’Sullivan’s early rustiness. The Leeds cueist compiled breaks of 64 and 72 to establish a surprise 2–0 lead, leaving the packed crowd momentarily stunned. O’Sullivan appeared unsettled, missing several straightforward pots and struggling with his safety game, but as so often in his career, the turnaround came swiftly and decisively.

The third frame proved the catalyst. A 93 clearance from O’Sullivan not only halved the deficit but also reignited his trademark fluency and swagger. From that point, the contest swung entirely in his favour. The five-time International Championship finalist began to dictate proceedings with his superior cue ball control and tactical nous, leaving Lam with few scoring opportunities.

By the mid-session interval, O’Sullivan had drawn level at 2–2 with a composed break of 76. After the restart, he accelerated into another gear, firing in runs of 101 and 67 to move 4–2 ahead. Lam battled gamely but struggled to maintain the high standards of the opening frames, while O’Sullivan’s growing confidence translated into some exhibition-style shots that delighted the Chinese audience.

The Rocket sealed victory in trademark fashion with back-to-back half-centuries in the final two frames, closing out a 6–2 win that looked comfortable by the end — though it was anything but in the early stages. Speaking after the match, O’Sullivan admitted that he had been “a bit sluggish” at the start but was pleased with how he managed to turn things around.

> “Sanderson played well early on — he didn’t miss much,” O’Sullivan said. “I just had to stay patient and wait for my chances. Once I settled down, I started to cue a bit better and found some rhythm. It’s nice to get through because these early rounds can be tricky.”

The victory continues O’Sullivan’s impressive run of form this season. Having already lifted trophies at the Shanghai Masters and English Open, he is again showing the consistency that has defined his remarkable career. The 49-year-old will now face either Hossein Vafaei or Xu Si in the next round as he pursues a record-extending 42nd ranking title.

For Lam, there were positives to take from pushing the sport’s greatest player early in the match, but ultimately O’Sullivan’s class and experience told. As the tournament progresses, few will bet against the Rocket adding yet another chapter to his extraordinary legacy on Chinese soil.