O’Sullivan Dominates, Trump Fires Magical 147 as Xi’an Grand Prix Bursts into Life
The Xi’an Grand Prix got off to a thrilling start in China, with snooker legends Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump lighting up the opening round in style.
O’Sullivan, playing his 1,000th ranking-event match, showed no signs of rust after a two-month break following his loss in the Saudi Arabia Masters final to Neil Robertson. The seven-time world champion eased past Ukraine’s Iulian Boiko with a commanding 5-0 victory, firing in breaks of 107 and 112 along the way.
Meanwhile, Judd Trump stole headlines by producing a stunning maximum 147 break — the ninth of his career and his first since 2022 — during his 5-2 win over three-time women’s world champion Ng On-yee. Ng had taken the opening frame with an impressive 74, but Trump responded in emphatic fashion, racking up further breaks of 100 and 94.
“It’s been a while,” said Trump. “A lot of others have been making 147s and making it look easy. It felt like it was time I got one. The atmosphere in China made it even more special.”
Trump’s 147 was one of two on the day, with Ireland’s Aaron Hill also achieving a perfect break in the second frame of his match against Huang Jiahao. That brings the season’s total to 13 maximums — just two shy of the all-time record of 15 in a single season, set in 2024-25.
Elsewhere, reigning world champion Zhao Xintong beat Wang Xinbo 5-2, Neil Robertson brushed past teenager Leone Crowley 5-1, and Jak Jones overcame fellow Welshman Dylan Emery by the same score. Defending champion Kyren Wilson advanced via walkover after Marco Fu withdrew, while Trump now prepares for a second-round clash with Matthew Stevens.
