O’Sullivan wins as Trump and Hill hit maximums

Ronnie O’Sullivan comfortably won his first-round match at the Xi’an Grand Prix in China, while Judd Trump hit a maximum 147 break as he beat three-time women’s world champion Ng On-yee.

Seven-time world champion O’Sullivan was making his first outing since losing the Saudi Arabia Masters final to Neil Robertson in August.

Playing his 1,000th ranking-event match, the 49-year-old started off with a 107 against Ukraine’s Iulian Boiko and made a 112 in the fourth frame before going on to claim a 5-0 win.

Trump’s maximum – the ninth of his career and first since 2022 – came in the fifth frame of the 2019 world champion’s 5-2 victory against Ng.

“It’s been a while. A lot of other people have been making 147s and making it look easy,” said England’s Trump. “I feel it was about time I made one.

“It was special to make one in China – the atmosphere was very good out there.”

The Republic of Ireland’s Aaron Hill also made a 147 in the second frame of his match against Huang Jiahao.

There have now been 13 maximums so far this season – the record is 15, recorded in the 2024-25 season.

“It’s a little bit surprising everyone has been making them,” added Trump.

Hong Kong’s Ng took the first frame of the match with a 74 break but Trump knocked in breaks of 100, 94 and the 147 on his way to victory and a second-round tie against Welshman Matthew Stevens.

Reigning men’s world champion Zhao Xintong beat fellow Chinese player Wang Xinbo 5-2, while Australian Neil Robertson was a 5-1 winner against Irish teenager Leone Crowley.