He's only had half-chances, Jackson Page.

But when you're playing Ronnie O'Sullivan, sometimes half-chances are the ones you've got to take.

Superb long red from Jackson Page to start frame three but he soon breaks down again.

Struggling to put any breaks together so far, the youngster, in this Crucible cauldron against one of the best players - if not the best - to ever pick up a cue.

He gets in again with a bit of a fluked red but this time misses the brown.

Page hasn't settled at all.

When he qualified, he said he didn't care who he played and if it was Ronnie he didn't mind and would look forward to it.

It's the worst draw in the world! And he's finding that out.

It's a comfortable start for Ronnie and Jackson has to get a frame on the board just to settle down.

Otis

A nice long red gave Page a slight sniff but the challenging position of the remaining balls proved too tough an obstacle and a missed black hands Ronnie O'Sullivan the chance to double his lead - which he takes.

And off he pops for a little bathroom break.

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Glimmer of hope in this second frame for Jackson Page as Ronnie O'Sullivan's break ends on 42 and he plays safe.

But the 'Rocket' has a 58-point lead with only 67 remaining on the table - and four of the five reds left are on cushions.

Pat, Bristol

Perhaps surprisingly, it's the far less experienced Jackson Page who finds the telling safety shot, forcing an error from the world number one and seven-time champion 26 years his senior.

The reds are split and open but the first colour is tricky - Page pots a nice blue into the green pocket with the cue ball near the cushion but then misses the next red.

And, wow, O'Sullivan has his choice of reds and the pink back on its spot. Hard to see him not making it 2-0.

So, Ronnie O'Sullivan doesn't consider himself the best snooker player of all time.

But do you? And if not, who is? We've picked out the six players we think could lay claim to the title of snooker GOAT (in the 'modern era', for those traditionalists shouting Joe Davis at your screen!)

We'll run down their credentials one by one over the next hour or so - and ask you to vote, by clicking the thumbs up symbols at the bottom of each entry, on who you think is the greatest player the game has ever seen.

And then we'll announce the winner right here later on this afternoon!

Image source, Getty Images and Rex Features

Ominous signs for Jackson Page as Ronnie O'Sullivan follows up that opening-frame win with an early red to the green pocket in frame two that looked in the moment he hit it.

However, O'Sullivan cannot amass too many points, he has to play safe after a break of 22 and a safety battle ensues.

Gary Ormiston: Money makes the world go around, we can't keep the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield at a sub 1k venue - just like the PDC [darts] worlds moved from Circus Tavern to a bigger and better arena, life moves on. Barry Hearn talking sense, it's not fit for 2024.

Exactly the start Robbie Williams needed over on the other table - a break of 77 gives him the opening frame of the afternoon to reduce the deficit against Mark Allen.

Page makes inroads into the deficit but a couple of snooker attempts go awry and he leaves a red over the pocket for the 'Rocket' to finish things off.

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A break of 54 from Ronnie O'Sullivan all but wraps up the opening frame - despite losing a cufflink at one point and having to roll his sleeves up literally as well as figuratively.

Jackson Page requires snookers but is playing on.

As John Virgo says, he doesn't have to pay for the light.

Callum Thompson: I'm hearing a lot of money talk about the game from Barry Hearn and not enough about the very essence of the sport which are mainstays like The Crucible etc. If you take those traditions away, what do you actually have left for purists?

If Jackson is going to have any chance in this match he's got to do the easy stuff well - and straight away, he didn't.

It's the easy stuff that trips you up.

Meanwhile, we're under way in this afternoon's two matches.

Mark Allen is trying to finish the job against Robbie Williams, holding a 7-2 overnight lead.

And, on the other table, Ronnie O'Sullivan has missed a fairly routine blue to hand Jackson Page an unexpected opening-frame chance... but he breaks down on eight.

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A final few quotes from Barry Hearn on rumours the top snooker players could launch a breakaway tour:

"The players under the new agreement have the freedom to do what they want to when there isn't a World Snooker Tour deal and that will open up 10-12 weeks of the year.

"Collectively we are very strong. Everything that happens outside of the strong body weakens the collective bargaining power the main tour has, to the detriment of the 128 [players].

"It may well please a certain few players who are coming to the end of their careers and they've got to do what's right for their families.

"There isn't a player on this Tour today that isn't under contract for the next two years so they've got to work within World Snooker rules and we won't hold anyone back but frankly, those sort of breakaway thoughts don't really have a great deal of commercial value.

"I'm quite comfortable in letting everyone do what they want because I believe in the brand of World Snooker what we've built up during the years. Time will tell."

Image source, Getty Images

Ronnie O'Sullivan says he could still be playing snooker in 10 years - if he is enjoying it.

The world number one, looking for a record-breaking eighth world title, has already collected two thirds of the Triple Crown this season after winning the UK Championship and Masters.

However, he felt he has played better.

"I've struggled quite a bit," said O'Sullivan. "I know I've won some tournaments but I've played a lot better and not won anything in some seasons. In some ways it doesn't make any sense. I just want to enjoy playing and I've not really enjoyed it.

"How do I want the next five, 10 years to be, if I play? I'm only 48 and I look at Jimmy [White] and he's 62. I will still play as long as I enjoy it. I have to find some game, some flow. I try to pick and choose places I want to be. There are 20 tournaments and I pick 10 of my favourites.

"I just want to enjoy it and be happy with my game, that's what it's all about. If I can be here by the quarter-finals I would be happy as that's when the tournament gets going and I might have a chance."