Ronnie O'Sullivan has declared that restoring his game to its former glory would be his greatest achievement, after defeating Adam Muir 5-1 in the first round of the World Open in Yushan. The 50-year-old world number 12 took a commanding 3-0 lead before finishing with consecutive century breaks, calling it a crucial step in his comeback.

O'Sullivan admitted his form has been poor for years, saying he's been working harder than ever off-camera to rebuild his confidence. He revealed he's committed to a two-year plan to rediscover his natural playing instincts, describing his current situation as 'one last throw of the dice.' The seven-time world champion hasn't won a ranking event since January 2024.

Other first-round results saw defending champion John Higgins beat Liam Highfield 5-3, while Judd Trump advanced with a 5-1 win over Mark Lloyd. World champion Zhao Xintong dominated with a 5-0 victory featuring two century breaks, and Shaun Murphy edged David Lilley 5-4 in round two. O'Sullivan's next opponent withdrew, automatically advancing him to the third round.