Ding and Ronnie served us a marvellous match this afternoon. It was high quality from both, it was played in great spirit. Ding produced some magic and still lost… Here are the scores:

Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-3 Ding Junhui – Report by WST

O’SULLIVAN STEALS SHOW DESPITE DING 147

Ding Junhui made history at the MrQ Masters by becoming the first player to make two 147s in snooker’s biggest invitation event, but finished second best to Ronnie O’Sullivan who ran out a 6-3 winner to start his bid for an eighth title.

Ding’s magnificent maximum, only the fourth in the 49-year history of the tournament, drew the loudest roar of the day from a 2,000-strong crowd at Alexandra Palace. But O’Sullivan’s army of fans in London went home happy as he progressed to a quarter-final tie with Neil Robertson or Barry Hawkins on Thursday afternoon.

In December, O’Sullivan won his 40th ranking title, and 22nd Triple Crown success, at the UK Championship, beating Ding 10-7 in the final to take his tally of UK crowns to eight. And he’s now looking to match that figure by extending his record Masters success, having lifted the trophy in 1995, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2016 and 2017. Despite not having hit a ball in professional competition since that final in York 36 days ago, the 48-year-old looked sharp, making two centuries and three more breaks over 60.

Runs of 67, 87 and 106 helped put him 4-0 ahead at the interval. Ding’s 147 helped him recover to 4-3, only for O’Sullivan to take the last two frames with 127 and 93.

“Ding was never out of position once on the 147, his cue ball control is better than anyone else. He’s a delight to watch, I am envious of the way he does that,” said the Rocket after reaching the quarter-finals of this event for the 25th time, on the 30th anniversary of his 1994 debut.  “My cueing is not great, I am trying to manufacture stuff out there. I play as if I’m playing at the club. I feel tense before the match, but then when it starts, I go for it. I have learned to play from a place of abandonment. I enjoy playing in front of good crowds, and playing in the different places we get to travel to.” 

MAXIMUMS AT THE MASTERS

ONLY THREE PLAYERS HAVE SCORED A 147 AT THIS EVENT

1984 Kirk Stevens
2007 Ding Junhui
2015 Marco Fu
2024 Ding Junhui

Ding, who is in line to bank the £15,000 high break prize this week and could earn a huge £147,000 bonus if he makes another maximum at the Cazoo World Championship, told BBC Sport: “I had a lot of chances at the start of the match but I messed up. After the interval I didn’t think I would play that well. To make a maximum was amazing, it has been along time since I felt like that. Early on in the break, the way the balls were, I thought I had a chance. Ronnie was playing so well, he was winning frames in one visit.”

DING’S EPIC 147

And here are the images shared by WST

And the videos shared by Eurosport on YouTube:

And thank to Kalacs for pointing this one to us.