Seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan defeats Ken Doherty on World Seniors debut at Crucible

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World Seniors Championship 2026 live comments and updates. TNT Sports brings you frame-by-frame updates as Ronnie O'Sullivan faces Ken Doherty in the second round at the Crucible Theatre. Play begins at 14:00. Also playing at the event are Joe Perry, Ali Carter, Stuart Bingham, Aaron Canavan, Peter Lines, Nigel Bond, Craig Steadman and Igor Figueiredo.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

Ronnie O'Sullivan returned to winning ways at the Crucible as he eased to a 4-1 win over Ken Doherty in the last 16 of the World Seniors Championship.

The seven-time world champion lost 13-12 to John Higgins in an epic battle in the second round of the World Championship a fortnight ago, but produced flashes of his best form to overcome 1997 world champion Doherty on his debut in the competition.

O'Sullivan finished with a knock of 93 to complete victory over Doherty and his reward is a quarter-final meeting with Peter Lines on Friday night.

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Veteran Leeds potter Lines defeated 2015 world champion Stuart Bingham, who produced a 127 break in the second frame, 4-2 earlier on Friday.

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World Seniors Championship results/schedule

Quarter-finals

Igor Figueiredo v Robert Milkins - Friday at 19:00
Peter Lines v Ronnie O'Sullivan - Friday at 21:00
Craig Steadman v Ali Carter - Friday at 19:00
Matthew Stevens v Joe Perry - Friday at 21:00

Last 16

Igor Figueiredo 4-0 Alfie Burden
Robert Milkins 4-3 Jimmy White
Stuart Bingham 2-4 Peter Lines
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-1 Ken Doherty
Nigel Bond 3-4 Craig Steadman
Ali Carter 4-2 Roger Farebrother
Matthew Stevens 4-2 Dominic Dale
Joe Perry 4-2 Aaron Canavan

Result: O'Sullivan 4-1 Doherty

"I feel comfortable and feel good at the table," said O'Sullivan on Channel 5. "A few silly mistakes, but I'll take feeling good. Maybe if I get through today, you get a bit more used to the table. As long as the crowd enjoy it. Happy to play my part in a snooker event."

O'Sullivan 3-1 Doherty (97-1)

A 93 break from Ronnie to finish. He is through to take on Peter Lines this evening for a semi-final spot.

O'Sullivan 3-1 Doherty (90-1)

Some super shots here by Ronnie to finish. Century could be on the cards too.

O'Sullivan 3-1 Doherty (63-1)

Much more like O'Sullivan we are used to seeing as he cracks open the reds off the blue. Golden chance to finish with a big break

O'Sullivan 3-1 Doherty (16-1)

Ken missing a black. Bad miss on black as Ronnie is handed another chance to piece together something half decent here.

O'Sullivan 3-1 Doherty (4-0)

Bit of a cagey start to this fifth frame of a possible six. Remember, no seventh frame with the black ball shoot out set to be utilised to determine the winner if it reaches 3-3.

O'Sullivan 3-0 Doherty (33-63)

Ken with a fine little cameo knock to secure the frame and prevent whitewash. Ronnie has seen enough. So at least the whitewash is off the table.

O'Sullivan 3-0 Doherty (33-47)

Not on the final red, but a very decent effort by Ronnie to leave white behind the black. Ken manages to produce a swerve shot to leave Ronnie in a snooker.

O'Sullivan 3-0 Doherty (30-47)

Ken so close to dropping in a red down table to the yellow bag. Another chance for Ronnie.

O'Sullivan 3-0 Doherty (21-40)

Both of these players are missing easy balls at the moment as Ronnie fails to sink an easy red to left middle. Didn't see that happening.

O'Sullivan 3-0 Doherty (7-31)

Brilliant pot on a red by Ken to the green bag before powering in the blue. Just fails to open up the reds coming off three cushions at pace.

O'Sullivan 3-0 Doherty (7-1)

Ronnie with chance to put this contest to bed after Doherty can't drop in a long red. But he misses a black off the spot. Which is unexpected.

O'Sullivan 3-0 Doherty (0-1)

Ken with an excellent long red at the outset of the fourth frame, but not following it up with much at the moment.

O'Sullivan 2-0 Doherty (61-0)

A possible 51 still left on the table, but looks like a 3-0 lead for the seven-time world champion. And Ken gives the nod seconds later. He is 3-0 clear.

O'Sullivan 2-0 Doherty (52-0)

Couple of stunning recovery pots by Ronnie on brown and red along baulk cushion. O'Sullivan looking to race three clear here. In goes yellow to left centre. Another supreme pot.

O'Sullivan 2-0 Doherty (44-0)

O'Sullivan moving at some speed around the table. But then ends up with a miscue on the black. Incredible. Didn't expect that. Doherty then not hard enough in trying to nudge a red into right centre.

O'Sullivan 2-0 Doherty (17-0)

Ronnie missing a tough red along top rail before slotting a brilliant red to the yellow bag seconds later. Another chance then for O'Sullivan to score.

O'Sullivan 1-0 Doherty (86-34)

No late heroics from Doherty chasing snookers and Ronnie sees out the colours to move 2-0 ahead.

O'Sullivan 1-0 Doherty (64-34)

Ken still looking for two snookers on the colours. 30 points the difference with a 22 left up.

O'Sullivan 1-0 Doherty (64-31)

Frame still in the balance heading for the colours. O'Sullivan looking good for a second frame. 33 ahead with only 25 left up.

O'Sullivan 1-0 Doherty (53-31)

Doherty doing well to escape from a snooker. White near the pink at baulk end of the table.

O'Sullivan 1-0 Doherty (53-31)

Doherty with a stunning long red from the baulk cushion, but he then misses pink seconds later. Bit of a rueful smile from Ken.

O'Sullivan 1-0 Doherty (52-15)

O'Sullivan with an AST of 13 seconds before he misses an easy red. 52 break from the Rocket this time. Now then. Ken back at the table.

O'Sullivan 1-0 Doherty (29-14)

Ronnie getting the reds all open. Golden chance to put another frame on the board.

O'Sullivan 1-0 Doherty (12-14)

Ronnie up and running again here. Potting balls with both hands. As is the way. Big chance to make some more progress here.

O'Sullivan 1-0 Doherty (1-14)

Both men missing reds using rest early in the second frame. Ken back at the table with a nice red-pink combo. Ken then missing a red across the baize to the green bag.

O'Sullivan 1-0 Doherty (0-0)

Well, last time Ronnie appeared with cue in hand was against John Higgins in a 13-12 defeat in the last 16 of the World Championship. Looks like he is hitting the ball with some really authority out there. But a fine break-off shot by Doherty leaves Rocket behind green.

O'Sullivan 0-0 Doherty (98-7)

This is supreme stuff here from Ronnie. Right up to speed. As you would expect. 42 and 56 from O'Sullivan for a 1-0 lead. Doherty doing little or nothing wrong there.

O'Sullivan 0-0 Doherty (59-7)

Stunning long red by Ronnie to the yellow pocket. This already looks good to take out the first frame. In goes red to left centre, and on goes the Rocket.

O'Sullivan 0-0 Doherty (42-7)

Doesn't take Ronnie long to get the balls open. Right back to business already. But he misses a tricky red on 42 down a side cushion. Didn't expect to see that refuse to drop.

O'Sullivan 0-0 Doherty (26-1)

Ronnie with his first prod at these balls as he drops in a green before screwing the white down the table for the next red. Chance then to build a lead here.

O'Sullivan 0-0 Doherty (0-1)

Ronnie so close to slotting a red down the table to the green pocket before Ken punches in a red with the rest. Doherty then missing a brown from side rail.

O'Sullivan 0-0 Doherty (0-0)

Winner of this match will take on Peter Lines in the quarter-finals tonight after Lines defeated 2005 world champion Stuart Bingham 4-2 in the last 16. A full house inside the Crucible Theatre for this one. First player to four frames will claim the victory.

World Seniors Championship results/schedule

Last 16

Igor Figueiredo 4-0 Alfie Burden
Robert Milkins 4-3 Jimmy White
Stuart Bingham 2-4 Peter Lines
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-1 Ken Doherty
Nigel Bond 3-4 Craig Steadman
Ali Carter 4-2 Roger Farebrother
Matthew Stevens 4-2 Dominic Dale
Joe Perry 3-2 Aaron Canavan

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