World Championship snooker latest: Ronnie O'Sullivan thumps Mark Joyce 10-4

As one of the Government’s pilot events, which are being used to help England and sport out of lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic, the venue in Sheffield opened its doors to fans again.

Six-time world champion O’Sullivan was taking on Joyce on the first day of the tournament and despite a scrappy start, he never looked in danger on the way to a 10-4 thrashing, delighting the reduced crowd in attendance.

O’Sullivan revealed after his win that he had been accosted by a drunken fan in the city centre.

The Rocket, who had spoken of concerns over his level of protection to Sporting Life ahead of the tournament, said: "Ninety-nine per cent of the people are fine, but it’s just the odd one who was a bit boozed up. It was so busy and this geezer was a nightmare.

"He was p***ed up and coming at me and I was like, ‘Mate, please’. What can you do? I’ve got to stay indoors and stay away."

All remaining players in the tournament must undertake a second Covid test prior to the quarter-finals.

And O’Sullivan added: "If I didn’t have to be clean for this tournament it wouldn’t matter, but if I reached the quarter-finals it would be a sickener to have a pull out.

"As a sportsman I can’t work if I get ill so that’s my only problem."

Ronnie on top despite quiet start

O’Sullivan was a long way from his best despite establishing a 6-3 lead in the first session, but moved through the gears in the evening as his rookie opponent spent much of the second session in his chair.

Joyce in fact took the opening frame to get back in touch at 6-4, but from there he barely contributed as O'Sullivan fired in a series of key contributions, including breaks of 124, 137 and 112 in successive frames to finish the job early.

The tone for a scrappy opening session had been set after just three shots when the players asked the referee to replace the cue ball due to a blemish.

That and a series of mistakes left O'Sullivan perhaps fortunate to be playing someone with no previous Crucible experience, and thanks to some luck and the odd flourish of brilliance he was well in front heading into the evening.

Within an hour of play resuming, the six-time champion was back in the sort of form which had seen him demolish Kyren Wilson when last playing in this famous arena, and whether it's Anthony McGill or Ricky Walden in round two, they have their hands full on this evidence.

In the end, this was a fitting way for spectators to return to live sport, even if some of those with tickets would perhaps have preferred to spend longer in the arena.

"I wouldn't say I was relieved; I was pleased I played all right at the end," O'Sullivan told BBC Sport immediately after his victory. "It was disastrous up until... when I started to play all right, I suppose!

"It's hard when you come here, you feel like it's such a slog. For me, I need to find a bit of momentum. I've got to try and build on the last four frames.

"It helps having the crowd in, it was really nice. It was great having (them) in. It forces you to try."

Form man flying high

Neil Robertson began his bid for a second world crown by taking six of the opening nine frames against Liang Wenbo.

Robertson looked fluent from the off with breaks of 79 and 59 earning him a 2-0 lead, before his first century saw him retain that gap at 3-1 heading into the interval.

After the next two frames were shared, Liang missed a huge chance to get within one, visibly snatching at a mid-range blue which was effectively frame ball and allowing Robertson to pinch it.

After a 60 break from the Aussie, it was vital Liang won the final frame of the session and that he did with an excellent 126 to keep his slim hopes alive.

There was an absence of big breaks as Jamie Jones opened up a 5-4 lead over Stephen Maguire, whose 51 in frame two was the highest of their tense and prolonged session.

Yan Bingtao and Martin Gould meanwhile are locked together at 4-4, Gould twice fighting back from two behind to ensure parity ahead of Sunday morning's final session, but David Gilbert is in total control with a 7-2 lead over Chris Wakelin.

Daily schedule at the Crucible

Saturday April 17
First round - best of 19 frames
Morning session (1000 BST)

• Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-3 Mark Joyce
• Yan Bingtao 4-4 Martin Gould

Afternoon session (1430 BST)

• Stephen Maguire 4-5 Jamie Jones
• Neil Robertson 6-3 Liang Wenbo

Evening session (1900 BST)

• Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-4 Mark Joyce
• David Gilbert 7-2 Chris Wakelin

Sunday April 18
First round - best of 19 frames
Morning session (1000 BST)

• Anthony McGill v Ricky Walden
• Yan Bingtao v Martin Gould (to a finish)

Afternoon session (1430 BST)

• John Higgins v Tian Pengfei
• David Gilbert v Chris Wakelin (to a finish)

Evening session (1900 BST)

• Stephen Maguire v Jamie Jones (to a finish)
• Neil Robertson v Liang Wenbo (to a finish)

World Championship content

• Richard Mann's World Championship outright preview
• Pundits' predictions including qualifiers to watch out for
• Ronnie O'Sullivan interview as he demands protection from fans
• Part one of our Ronnie exclusive as he labels Mark Selby a 'bad loser'
• World Snooker draw, schedule, results, format and TV info
• Richard Mann's loveletter to the Crucible Theatre
• Watch every 147 break in Crucible history