Murphy misses out on a massive break as he wraps up the fifth frame
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Ronnie O'Sullivan recovers from slow start to roar past Jackson Page after Shaun Murphy makes history during Matthew Selt whitewash
Live comments, updates, results and streaming details as Ronnie O'Sullivan completes turnaround to beat Jackson Page after free-scoring Shaun Murphy makes history during Matthew Selt whitewash
By Jonathan Davies | Updated 09/08/2026 at 15:06 GMT+1
Timeline
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14:50
14:46
14:46
ROCKET RALLIES FROM SLOW START TO POWER PAST PAGE
Ronnie O'Sullivan bounced back after a slow start to soar past Jackson Page and into the China Open second round.
The Rocket trailed 2-0, but reeled off the following six frames to set up a showdown with Noppon Saengkham in the last 16.
Page, who had never beaten O'Sullivan in three previous attempts, opened with a break of 77, before winning a scrappy second frame to double his lead.
O'Sullivan responded with runs of 64 and 70 to level things up at the mid-session interval.
The seven-time world champion completed the turnaround with quickfire breaks of 96 and 93, before a 100 clearance in the final frame made it six on the spin and sealed victory.
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Image credit: Getty Images
Earlier in the day, Saengkham proved too strong in a surprise 6-3 win over Judd Trump. The world No. 1 fought back to 2-2 after falling 2-0 behind but could not produce anything like the kind of form he displayed during his run to the Shanghai Masters title.
The defeat means Trump could soon lose his place at the top of the world rankings, while it also put paid to the prospect of a blockbuster second-round clash against O'Sullivan.
14:41
14:41
RESULT! Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-2 Jackson Page
The Rocket finally has his century, having gone close in frames five and six.
A break of exactly 100 makes it six frames on the spin to seal victory over Page, booking his place in the last 16.
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Image credit: Getty Images
14:37
14:37
O'SULLIVAN 5-2 PAGE (27-19)
Despite missing a red to the left corner, O'Sullivan is back at the table with a chance to wrap things up.
14:29
14:29
O'SULLIVAN 5-2 PAGE
A further run of 45 does the trick for O'Sullivan.
He now needs one more frame for a place in the second round.
14:23
14:23
O'SULLIVAN 4-2 PAGE (20-34)
O'Sullivan is in again in frame seven, but runs out of position on 20.
Lacking table time in recent frames, Page looks to respond, only to break down on 34.
The Rocket with another chance to kill things off quickly...
14:14
14:14
O'SULLIVAN 4-2 PAGE
Meanwhile, the Rocket is suddenly motoring on the main table.
Another swift contribution of 93 means, just a quarter of an hour since play resumed, he's now made it four frames in a row.
14:10
14:10
HISTORY-MAKING MURPHY SWEEPS ASIDE STUNNED SELT
Shaun Murphy made history on his way to a comprehensive 6-0 whitewash of Matthew Selt.
The Magician broke the record for the most unanswered points, hitting four successive centuries as he scored 607 without reply during a scintillating display.
Murphy controlled the opening frame with a run of 61, before total clearances of 132 and 139 sandwiched a 103 to move him 4-0 to the good.
Last season's Crucible finalist went close to a maximum break in frame five, but broke down on 113 after missing a tricky mid-range black with the rest.
Nevertheless, that contribution saw him surpass Ronnie O'Sullivan's previous record of 556 points without reply during his 2014 Masters quarter-final rout of Ricky Walden.
Selt finally stopped the rot in frame six, but contributions of 41 and 55 saw Murphy seal a dominant victory.
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Image credit: Getty Images
14:07
14:07
O'SULLIVAN 3-2 PAGE
The Rocket can't quite make a century on the resumption from the interval.
Nevertheless, a break of 96 is more than enough to complete the turnaround, having trailed 2-0.
14:03
14:03
WHITEWASH! SHAUN MURPHY 6-0 MATTHEW SELT
Selt gets to 35 before breaking down.
Murphy steps in to clear with 55 and wrap up a comprehensive 6-0 whitewash.
He'll play Xiao Guodong in the second round.
13:57
13:57
MURPHY 5-0 SELT (41-1)
A huge cheer erupts around the arena, as Selt knocks in a long red to finally score his first point of the contest.
The new record for Murphy stands at 607 points without reply.
13:50
13:50
HISTORY MADE
Despite coming up just short in his 147 attempt, Murphy has scored 566 unanswered points.
That's officially the most by any player in tournament history, surpassing Ronnie O'Sullivan's 556 against Ricky Walden at the 2014 Masters.
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Image credit: Getty Images
13:47
13:47
OH NO! MURPHY 5-0 SELT
Murphy runs out of position on the 15th red.
Though he manages to finely cut it into the right corner, it leaves a mid-range cut on the black to the same pocket.
The Magician is extremely unfortunate to catch the far jaw with a superb attempt.
Not quite the max, but he's on the brink of victory at 5-0 up.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/08/09/image-25fab832-a325-4a3b-85b9-229022038f46-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Murphy misses out on a massive break as he wraps up the fifth frame
Video credit: TNT Sports
13:46
13:46
MURPHY 4-0 SELT (96-0)
12 reds, 12 blacks.
Come on, Shaun!
13:42
13:42
MURPHY 4-0 SELT (48-0)
Six reds and six blacks for the Magician in this fifth frame.
Given the way he's playing, there's every chance...
13:40
13:40
O'SULLIVAN 2-2 PAGE
A break of 70 is the Rocket's highest of the match so far.
More importantly, it drags him level at the mid-session interval.
13:26
13:26
O'SULLIVAN 1-2 PAGE
Much more like it from the Rocket, who clears to the pink with 64 to get his first frame on the board.
13:23
13:23
O'SULLIVAN 0-2 PAGE (48-10)
It's not quite so free-flowing on the main table, with both players missing relatively easy chances.
However, O'Sullivan has another opportunity to kill off this third frame.
13:22
13:22
THREE IN A ROW! MURPHY 4-0 SELT
This is simply outstanding from the Magician!
A marvellous total clearance of 139 does the trick this time.
That's now 453 points without reply!
13:12
13:12
O'SULLIVAN 0-2 PAGE
Early concerns for the Rocket, as his opponent doubles his lead after a scrappy second frame.
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'Another terrible mistake' - O'Sullivan produces a disastrous shot against Page
Video credit: TNT Sports
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