Coverage of the World Snooker Championship on BBC Two, the iPlayer and the 'Watch & Listen' tab has finished for the time being.

The evening session starts at 19:00 BST when the action will be on BBC Four as well as via iPlayer and here on the BBC Sport website.

We will take a brief pause on our live text commentary as well.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

Ronnie O'Sullivan makes it looks easy but it's bread and butter stuff for him. A couple of frames he lost it a little bit but a satisfactory session for him. Generally he did what he had to do.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

Ronnie O'Sullivan lost his focus for a few frames but the last one was magnificent - pure artistry.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at the Crucible

Seven-time winner Ronnie O'Sullivan began his quest for a record-breaking eighth World Championship title with a dominant opening session against Chinese debutant He Guoqiang.

O'Sullivan, 50, took the first five frames and holds a 7-2 advantage, needing only three frames for victory when the match resumes on Wednesday afternoon (14:30 BST).

He pulled out of the Masters in January and has only played in three of six ranking events in 2026, reaching the final of the World Open in China last month.

During that tournament he made a break of 153, the highest ever recorded in professional snooker, after benefiting from an early snooker that left him a free ball, which then acted like a 16th red.

He was playing at the Crucible for a 34th season and instantly took control as breaks of 72, 97 and 113 helped him into a 5-0 lead, with 25-year-old He, the world number 47, already in massive trouble.

The Chinese player did manage to win two frames in a row, but O'Sullivan claimed both the last two frames of the session, helped by breaks of 52 and 86.

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Two

This has really been a masterclass from Ronnie O'Sullivan. It's been like watching a genius at work.

You can't help but feel a little bit sorry for He Guoqiang who was sat in that chair for the first few frames while everything went wrong.

He'll have been looking forward to this match, but the Crucible can be a lonely place at times.

No second century of the session but an 86 break from the 'Rocket' and a five-frame advantage.

A fist bump between the combatants and the afternoon session is complete.

Image source, Getty Images

Now he's in the O'Sullivan 'zone' of delicate kisses and cannons in and around the pink spot (black on the cushion).

Could be frame over soon enough, 50-odd ahead and counting.

Talking of flukes, not sure Ronnie O'Sullivan completely meant the double on the red that just sneaked into the middle pocket...

Seemed either a thin cut that went wrong or a safety that went wrong.

Then again who are we to doubt the genius?

Whether it was intended or not, he follows it up with a classy brown to really open up a frame-winning chance.

Take a look at this outrageously-fluked snooker in the last frame.

Ronnie O'Sullivan still won the frame, mind.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

I think of the three from the Class of 92 that Ronnie O'Sullivan is the least accepting of the errors. Mark Williams will find a way to win. John Higgins you know will. Ronnie is such a perfctionist he will find it harder than the other two.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

I think Ronnie has admitted he has learned from Mark Williams in how to forget these unforced errors which are creeping into the games of the Class of 92. You have to be able to forget it and come back to the table fresh.

Yep, O'Sullivan mops up the remaining available reds with colours and he stops the mini-rot.

A reminder of the draw.

Huge second-round clash between Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins if the 'Rocket' gets through this test.

O'Sullivan takes another step closer to doing so with a superb long red that gives him a huge chance of extending his lead back to four frames.

Image source, Getty Images

It's now Ronnie's turn to fluff a shot, inadvertently catching a red when aiming to pot another, albeit long, one.

Again though minimal damage done as He Guoqiang can only make eight.

The frames are becoming increasingly scrappy, which won't please - or favour - O'Sullivan.

He Guoqiang flukes an outrageous snooker. Needs to be seen to be believed.

Butchers a long red yet somehow a couple of cannons end up putting the cue ball behind the blue ball near the baulk cushion.

Easy enough escape for O'Sullivan - even if he falls short the first time. Gets it the second.

Of course, the live texter curse strikes and as soon as we type that, O'Sullivan miscues a red.

He Guoqiang cannot take advantage so we're back to the safety battle but the 'Rocket' does have a 30-point lead.

Dennis Taylor
1985 world champion on BBC Two

Ronnie O'Sullivan has lost a little bit of focus and concentration in the last two frames. A chance to get himself back on track now.

A lengthy safety exchange to start frame eight but it's Ronnie O'Sullivan in and looking to pick off reds and black in a very clustered bottom half of the table.

Lots of delicate positional shots needed to build a break here and, well, there's few - if any - better at that.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

He Guoqiang has been given some encouragement. Ronnie O'Sullivan has gone slightly off the boil and He has done what he's supposed to do which is score off it. He's played some brilliant shots.

Here's a reminder of what He Guoqiang is up against.

A man seeking a record-extending eighth World Championship crown.

Stephen Hendry, in the BBC studios, no doubt secretly willing a shock comeback on here...