World Snooker Championship 2022 | Day Two Preview and Order of Play
O’Sullivan is 6-3 to the good against Gilbert (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Wire/PA Images)
Ronnie O’Sullivan headlines the action as he resumes his showdown with David Gilbert on day two of the World Championship.
The six-time champion requires just four more frames to reach the second round at the Crucible for a 26th time in 30 appearances.
The Rocket made a slow start on Saturday against 2019 semi-finalist Gilbert, who won the opening three frames as he sought a first victory in eight meetings between the players.
However, the new world number one hit back with breaks of 122, 104, 66 and 64 to take command.
Zhao Xintong is also in a strong position; the UK Championship and German Masters winner is 7-2 to the good against Jamie Clarke.
The Cyclone was clinical during his first session at the Crucible as a seed, reeling off breaks of 109, 103, 98, 78, 73 and 57.
Elsewhere, Barry Hawkins must overturn a three-frame deficit in his bid to avoid an opening-round exit here for the first time since 2010.
The 2013 runner-up trails 6-3 against debutant Jackson Page, who demonstrated no signs of nerves during his maiden outing at the Crucible as he produced contributions of 102, 84, 67, 61, 55 and 53 to take a 6-3 lead.
Shaun Murphy also trails by that margin against Stephen Maguire, who is appearing on snooker’s biggest stage for a 19th successive year.
Three-time World champion Mark Williams launches his campaign against fellow Welshman Michael White, who returns to the Crucible for the first time in six years.
Williams has reached successive World Championship quarter-finals – losing to the eventual winner on both occasions – but will be wary, as White prevailed when they met at this stage in 2013.
Meanwhile, former semi-finalist Anthony McGill begins his eighth successive Crucible campaign against Liam Highfield.
The Glasgow Gladiator invariably saves his best form for Sheffield, where he has reached consecutive quarter-finals in the last two years.
Play gets underway at 10am BST on Sunday with all matches contested over the best of 19 frames at the Crucible Theatre.
WATCH DAY TWO OF THE WORLD SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIP STREAMED LIVE HERE (18+)
World Snooker Championship 2022 Day Two Schedule
Sunday April 17
Round One
10am
7 Anthony McGill v Liam Highfield
13* Zhao Xintong 7-2 Jamie Clarke
2.30pm
4 Mark Williams v Michael White
16* Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-3 David Gilbert
7pm
3* Barry Hawkins 3-6 Jackson Page
14* Shaun Murphy 3-6 Stephen Maguire