Ronnie O'Sullivan marched on at the Masters with a 6-3 victory over Ding Junhui. O'Sullivan is trying to win this tournament for the eighth time.
What happened?
Ding Junhui made a magnificent Masters maximum, his seventh career 147, in the seventh frame of their first-round clash.
The 36-year-old overcame a tricky yellow and a pink with the rest to record only the fourth maximum at the prestigious tournament.
Why it matters for Ronnie O'Sullivan
O'Sullivan trailed 4-0 at the mid-session interval but Ding finally got on the board after O'Sullivan missed a simple red.
Ding immediately pulled two frames back before his magic moment left him trailing by one at 4-3.
What comes next?
O'Sullivan hit straight back with a break of 127, and two visits to the table later he had wrapped up victory.
O'Sullivan told the BBC after the match, “It was an unbelievable 147 from Ding.”
Ding was not at the races before the interval and surprised himself with his milestone break.
“I had a lot of chances at the start but just messed up,” he said.
O'Sullivan is bidding for an eighth Masters title, and his win sets him up for a quarter-final match.
The victory marks another step towards O'Sullivan's goal of winning the tournament for the eighth time.
O'Sullivan's rapid response to the maximum break was key to his win, as he added, “Listen, I just tried. My cueing is not great. I was just trying to manufacture stuff out there.”
Ding's 147 break was the fourth in Masters history, with Kirk Stevens and Marco Fu also achieving the feat.
The match was played at Alexandra Palace, with O'Sullivan ultimately emerging victorious.
O'Sullivan's experience and skill were on full display as he navigated the challenging match.
The win is a significant step forward for O'Sullivan in the tournament, as he looks to claim his eighth title.
Ding's impressive 147 break was not enough to overcome O'Sullivan's strong performance.
O'Sullivan's next match will be a crucial test of his skills as he continues to pursue his eighth Masters title.