Ronnie O'Sullivan made a solid start to his World Championship defence, establishing a 6-3 lead over his practice partner Stuart Bingham after the first session of their match.

O'Sullivan began in fine form, winning the first two frames of the first-round match, including a 140 break in the second frame. Although the world No1 threatened to run away with the best-of-19 frame contest, fellow Englishman Bingham recovered well to take the next three frames and go into the lead.

O'Sullivan was undeterred, and himself won three frames in a row to lead 6-3 after the first session. But he may rue a missed opportunity to claim the £157,000 that goes with a maximum 147 break. In the ninth and final frame of the session, he had potted 10 reds and nine blacks, but the 10th black squirmed out via the jaws of the top left pocket, to gasps of disappointment from the packed crowd at the Crucible.