Ronnie O’Sullivan begun his three-session clash with Ryan Day on Sunday morning (Picture: Getty Images)
Ronnie O’Sullivan is ahead but not entirely comfortable in his second round clash with Ryan Day at the Crucible, leading 5-3 after the opening session.
It was a blistering start from the Rocket, knocking in breaks of 123 and 84 to claim the first two frames in short order.
Day took the next to settle any nerves and his confidence was boosted by a break of 70 to level things up before the mid-session interval.
However, mistakes will be punished by the world number one and the Welshman broke down in the fifth after building a 37-point lead and O’Sullivan stepped in to make a brilliant 83 and re-establish a lead.
There were worrying signs for Day in the sixth as O’Sullivan missed to hand him a chance but he immediately sent a red wide of its target and the Rocket got the frame done.
After a number of early missed chances, Day may have been starting to worry but he looked very good in the seventh as he knocked in a 115 to go back within one.
The Rocket took the last of the session, though, making a 92 to go 5-3 ahead before they return on Sunday evening.
Day will be reasonably happy with 5-3 behind, but had the chances to be in a better position and will have to take them more regularly if he is to spring a huge surprise over the next two sessions.
They play again at 7pm on Sunday before the final session at 1pm on Monday.
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