Summary

  • Use play icons in the 'watch & listen' tab to watch first-round coverage

  • First round: Best of 19 frames

  • End of session: John Higgins 5-4 Jamie Jones (resumes 19:00 Thurs)

  • End of session: Ronnie O'Sullivan 8-1 Jackson Page (resumes 13:00 Thur)

  • Result: Mark Allen 10-6 Robbie Williams

  • Result: Ding Junhui 9-10 Jack Lisowski

  • Result: Kyren Wilson 10-1 Dominic Dale

  • Result: Barry Hawkins 8-10 Ryan Day

  1. 'Probably no way back for Page'published at 15:53 British Summer Time 24 April

    O'Sullivan 4-0 Page

    Stephen Hendry
    Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

    Ronnie is killing this match early - he's putting everything into it and has been patient with his shot selection.

    At 4-0 there's probably no way back for Jackson Page already in this match.

  2. O'Sullivan dominates first mini-sessionpublished at 15:50 British Summer Time 24 April

    O'Sullivan 4-0 Page

    Ronnie O'Sullivan runs out of position on the colours which means there's no century break but a polished run of 81 puts him firmly in control of this first-round match as the players head out for the mid-session interval.

    Ronnie O'SullivanImage source, Getty Images
  3. Allen extends leadpublished at 15:48 British Summer Time 24 April

    Allen 8-4 Williams

    It got a bit scrappy but Mark Allen has his first frame of the afternoon and is now only two away from victory over Robbie Williams.

  4. Postpublished at 15:47 British Summer Time 24 April

    O'Sullivan 3-0 Page

    Jackson Page is not being tight enough with his safety. One such shot barely makes it back to baulk and leaves Ronnie O'Sullivan a long red that he fires in.

    That's the start of another half-century break and 4-0 is incoming.

  5. Postpublished at 15:44 British Summer Time 24 April

    O'Sullivan 3-0 Page

    The long pots are not the problem for Jackson Page - he's banged plenty in already.

    It's more the mid-distance shots or delicate cuts that are proving his undoing. He's in again early in frame four - but once again he can only make single figures.

  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 15:41 British Summer Time 24 April

    #bbcsnooker or WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Ronnie clearly has left his car parked on a limited time spot. He's in a hurry!

    Joe

  7. Snooker's greatest? Steve Davispublished at 15:39 British Summer Time 24 April

    Steve Davis career statsImage source, BBC Sport

    Much like his heir apparent Stephen Hendry would do in the following decade, Steve Davis absolutely bossed the snooker scene in the 1980s.

    In an era where the World Championship final regularly attracted record viewership figures, Davis was the sport's undisputed number one, winning six Crucible crowns and losing in two other finals (yes, including that one against Dennis Taylor).

    Perhaps just as impressive, after a 1990s slump during Hendry's dominance, was a late career renaissance that saw him remain a top-16 player into his 50s and reach a Crucible quarter-final aged 52 in 2010.

    Is Davis the greatest of all time? Hit the thumbs up button if 'The Nugget' is your man.

  8. Postpublished at 15:38 British Summer Time 24 April

    O'Sullivan 3-0 Page

    Speaking of Steve, time for the next candidate in our GOAT vote...

    Scroll back through the previous entries to see the first two - Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry.

  9. 'Tough at the best of times'published at 15:37 British Summer Time 24 April

    O'Sullivan 3-0 Page

    Steve Davis
    Six-time world champion on BBC Two

    Jackson has got many years to come back here.

    But it's tough at the best of times to play well here. Even if you think you're prepared for it, when you get out there it's a shock to the system.

  10. 'If you don't settle early, you're in trouble'published at 15:35 British Summer Time 24 April

    O'Sullivan 3-0 Page

    Ken Doherty
    1997 world champion on BBC Two

    It's completely different to any other tournament, there's no doubt about it.

    As soon as you walk down those steps, you get the sense of history. Jackson is not only playing the greatest player in the history of the game, he's playing the conditions, he's playing all that history and the crowd as well.

    That's very difficult - if you don't settle down very early, you're in big, big trouble.

  11. Allen frustrated in 147 bidpublished at 15:34 British Summer Time 24 April

    Allen 7-4 Williams

    Six reds and six blacks for Mark Allen but a potential maximum 147 break comes unstuck as he misjudges a shot after being disturbed by a noise in the background. He won't be happy although he's still favourite for this frame.

  12. Postpublished at 15:31 British Summer Time 24 April

    O'Sullivan 3-0 Page

    Stephen Hendry
    Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

    This match could very quickly run away from Jackson Page.

  13. Postpublished at 15:31 British Summer Time 24 April

    O'Sullivan 3-0 Page

    The world number one clears up with a 56 break to extend his advantage.

  14. Postpublished at 15:29 British Summer Time 24 April

    O'Sullivan 2-0 Page

    Ronnie O'Sullivan in actionImage source, BBC Sport

    Ronnie O'Sullivan gave away 16 penalty points from this position - twice hitting the pink with escape attempts and then missing the balls completely with the other.

    But he's since pinged in a long red and this frame is going the way of the previous two.

  15. Snooker's greatest? Stephen Hendrypublished at 15:27 British Summer Time 24 April

    Stephen Hendry career statsImage source, BBC Sport

    The man who, for many, revolutionised snooker - pioneering a more attacking approach and dominating the sport for an entire decade as a result.

    Stephen Hendry was the sport's equivalent of Manchester United during the 1990s, mopping up trophy after trophy with a will to win perhaps identical to that of compatriot Sir Alex Ferguson.

    While most of his records may have been taken - chiefly by O'Sullivan - Hendry's influence on the game is undeniable and his run of six successive World titles between 1992 and 1996 will surely never be matched.

    Is he the game's greatest exponent? Hit the thumbs up option if you think so.

  16. Postpublished at 15:26 British Summer Time 24 April

    O'Sullivan 2-0 Page

    The 'Rocket' missed the next red, though, and while Page cannot take the opportunity presented, he's got his opponent in a very nasty snooker.

  17. Postpublished at 15:25 British Summer Time 24 April

    O'Sullivan 2-0 Page

    Another Jackson Page misjudgement, this time an errant escape from a snooker, has left Ronnie O'Sullivan in again.

    He reaches 45 with little trouble but runs out of position on the black - so he switches hands, and cuts it in with his left hand while bridging over two reds.

    Shouldn't be astonished by anything he does to be honest - but that's remarkable. Imagine playing this shot with your 'wrong' hand.

    Ronnie O'Sullivan in actionImage source, BBC Sport
  18. Williams wins anotherpublished at 15:22 British Summer Time 24 April

    Allen 7-4 Williams

    Mark Allen will have been hoping to wrap his match up fairly swiftly but he's lost the opening two frames and Robbie Williams is now only three behind.

  19. get involved

    Get Involved - Crucible futurepublished at 15:20 British Summer Time 24 April

    #bbcsnooker or WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    James Gulleford: I’ve been lucky enough to have seen cricket at Lord's, tennis on Centre Court at Wimbledon and snooker at the Crucible. From my experience there is simply no atmosphere that can compare to the Crucible Theatre, so we cannot lose it!

    The main point that is missed about moving away from the Crucible is that no venue looks better on tv. Due to how tight it is, the camera angles are unique and closer. Also the amount of crowd that appear in shot adds to the drama. No better dramatic staging of a sporting event.

    Rich

  20. Snooker's greatest? Ronnie O'Sullivanpublished at 15:18 British Summer Time 24 April

    Ronnie O'Sullivan career statsImage source, BBC Sport

    Right, a reminder we'll be running down our list of contenders for the title of snooker GOAT - after the 'Rocket' claimed he didn't class himself as such.

    Regardless of what he says, however, if this was a game of Top Trumps, well this would be the card you'd want.

    In only one category can O'Sullivan be matched - his seven Crucible crowns equalled by Stephen Hendry.

    The Rocket's longevity is unparalleled too - 30 years on from his first major title, the UK Championship in 1993, he lifted the same trophy again this year.

    Reckon Ronnie's the GOAT? Hit the thumbs up. If not, we've got five more candidates to bring you.