O'Sullivan sinks Ding at championship

SHEFFIELD, England - Tournament favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan needed just under an hour to wrap up his 10-2 first-round win against Chinese snooker prodigy Ding Junhui at the world snooker championship here on Monday.

China's Ding Junhui reacts during the first round match against Ronnie O'Sullivan at the world snooker championship on Monday. Ding was dispatched 10-2. [sina]

The inevitable was only momentarily delayed as the rocket capitalised on his 8-1 overnight lead to confirm his place in the last 16.

Ding pulled a frame back in the 10th but the Rocket responded with an 87 break in the 11th before wrapping up his victory with a 72.

O'Sullivan now faces either Ryan Day or Neil Robertson in round two.

The scoreline was more emphatic than their last meeting, the SAGA Insurance Masters final where O'Sullivan triumphed 10-3, this time he shaved a frame off with a 10-2 demolition.

The victor revealed he did not feel sorry for friend Ding following the first-round trouncing.

"There is no place for feeling sorry for anyone, but I am a big fan of Ding, he is a friend of mine," the two-time world champion told BBC.

"I just hope that match stands him in good stead for next year."

"I was up for it from the beginning. I got off to a good start, " he added.

Despite the defeat Ding said the experience he gained on his first appearance at the Crucible was invaluable.

"I tried 100 per cent but Ronnie played very well. The match I lost at Wembley did not affect me," the 20-year-old said.

"The Crucible is the best arena I have ever played in. I'm still very young and I hope I will have a lot more chances to win here."

Teenage Judd Trump was the other rising star falling on Monday after a 10-6 defeat to 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy. But the 17-year-old made Murphy work hard to book his place in the second round.

Murphy led 5-4 going into the second session but Trump bounced back, clinching the 10th and making an 85 break to take the lead. But experience paid off for the 24-year-old from Rotherham as he won the last five frames to seal the victory and set up a clash with John Parrott.

Qualifier Fergal O'Brien also clinched a berth in the second round with a tense 10-9 win over world number 12 Barry Hawkins.

While Mark Allen proved he will be no pushover on his Crucible debut after taking a 6-3 lead in his first-round match against 1997 world champion Ken Doherty, 2004 UK champion Stephen Maguire enjoyed a comfortable 7-2 lead over Joe Perry going to their second session