Ronnie O’Sullivan enjoyed a winning debut at the World Seniors Snooker Championship after beating Ken Doherty 4-1 at the Crucible Theatre.
The match marked the first time the two snooker greats had met competitively at the famous Sheffield venue, with O’Sullivan proving far too strong for the 56-year-old Irishman in their last-16 clash.
Seeded fourth for the tournament, O’Sullivan bounced back impressively from his recent second-round exit at the main World Championship, where John Higgins ended his title challenge on April 27. He began sharply against Doherty, producing breaks of 42 and 56 to comfortably take the opening frame.
The second frame was more tactical, featuring lengthy safety exchanges before the seven-time world champion edged further ahead for a 2-0 lead. O’Sullivan stayed in control during the third frame and looked set for a whitewash victory.
Doherty, nicknamed “The Darling of Dublin,” avoided the sweep by taking the fourth frame in front of a packed crowd. However, O’Sullivan responded in style, compiling a superb 93 break in the final frame to secure his place in the quarter-finals, narrowly missing out on a century.
Despite the comfortable win, O’Sullivan remained critical of his own display afterwards. He admitted he felt comfortable at the table but believed he was still making too many simple mistakes, although he was pleased with how he currently feels compared to recent months.
The Rocket will now return to action later in the day for a quarter-final showdown with Peter Lines as he looks to build momentum at the Crucible following his disappointment in the main championship.
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