Snooker LIVE: Ronnie O’Sullivan through to quarter-finals but John Higgins beaten at UK Championship

The snooker UK Championship continues the York Barbican on Thursday as Ronnie O’Sullivan returns to the table to face Robert Milkins after an impressive storm to victory in the first round against Anthony McGill. The Rocket rattled off six frames in a row to come from two down and claim the match 6-2 in what could be an ominous sign for the rest of the field at this tournament.

Robert Milkins, meanwhile, defeated Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 6-5 in a gruelling contest that went down to the final frame. He should expect another tough fight this afternoon is he is to sneak past the 2022 world champion.

Also on the table today is John Higgins who beat Joe O’Connor 6-3 in the opening round. His opponent is Zhou Yuelong of China who dumped Neil Robertson out of the championship last time out. This one should be a highly entertaining affair with the winner going on to face the victor of O’Sullivan and Milkins’ match in the quarter-finals.

Follow the action from the UK Championship below:

UK Snooker Championship LIVE

• Ronnie O’Sullivan takes on Robert Milkins in the last-16 of the UK Championship at the York Barbican

• O’Sullivan wins deciding frame to beat Milkins 6-5

• John Higgins also in action against China’s Zhou Yuelong

• Zhou Yuelong defeats John Higgins 6-3

• Round of 16 action began at the UK Championship from 1pm GMT, live on the BBC and Eurosport

Zhou Yuelong beats John Higgins 6-3

17:01 , Mike Jones

Ronnie O’Sullivan defeats Robert Milkins 6-5

17:00 , Mike Jones

John Higgins 3-6 Zhou Yuelong

16:35 , Mike Jones

Zhou Yuelong wins!

A break of 63 takes him into the next round and he’s beate John Higgins 6-3. Higgins struggled to get going throughout the afternoon and let Zhou in too many times.

The 25-year-old took his chances and now has a headlining match against Ronnie O’Sullivan to come.

John Higgins 3-5 Zhou Yuelong

16:29 , Mike Jones

Oh no. Zhou takes on a long pot to the bottom left but misses it. Higgins has a chance to pot a red to the bottom right yet catches it thick and leaves Zhou on.

This will be a tricky clean up the match could be won here by the 25-year-old.

John Higgins 3-5 Zhou Yuelong

16:27 , Mike Jones

Zhou has a lead of 19 over Higgins in this ninth frame but the reds are clustered for the Scotsman. Higgins rolls in his first red and follows with the blue and a cannon that spreads the reds around the table.

The cueball finishes on the right cushion though and he has to play safe after a break of six.

John Higgins 3-5 Zhou Yuelong

16:25 , Mike Jones

Over on table two, Zhou Yuelong is on the verge of a fantastic win over John Higgins. He need just one more frame to take the match and set up a quarter-final against Ronnie O’Sullivan.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-5 Robert Milkins

16:14 , Mike Jones

The pressure is all on Milkins as he needs a snooker. He’s not taking on the pot for the red which is giving O’Sullivan a bit of leeway for his safety play.

Milkins next leaves the red open for the middle left. O’Sullivan rolls it in and Robert Milkins stands up. He shakes O’Sullivan’s hand and concedes the game.

O’Sullivan was forced to work hard but he goes through to the quarter-finals!

Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-5 Robert Milkins

16:12 , Mike Jones

Milkins knows it’s almost over.

A red, blue, red, yellow is enough to make Milkins need a snooker to get the match alive. O’Sullivan leaves the cueball behind the black and moves the final red to the other end of the table.

The next stroke is fantastic. Milkins comes off the right then top cushions to hit the red. The frame isn’t done just yet.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-5 Robert Milkins

16:09 , Mike Jones

Chance! Milkins goes safe and O’Sullivan takes on a plant which he misses. A red to the top corner is available buy Milkins leaves it over the pocket.

These mistakes are creeping in. O’Sullivan has another opportunity to see of the match.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-5 Robert Milkins

16:08 , Mike Jones

That’s wonderful from Ronnie O’Sullivan.

A delicate cannon into a couple of red unlocks them to go into the bottom left pocket. He plays off the pink on his way to a break of 46.

Over-hitting the cueball though means he can’t clean up the table. He’s visibly frustrated but manages to get the cueball in behind the brown for a lead of 22.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-5 Robert Milkins

16:04 , Mike Jones

Oh my. Milkins misses a red to the middle right and his break of 14 leaves him 24 ahead. O’Sullivan slots in the available red left-handed and needs more great shots to get back into this frame.

The green follows and the cueball is nestled in amongst the reds. O’Sullivan starts to get to work.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-5 Robert Milkins

16:02 , Mike Jones

That’s good. A medium pot down the table from Milkins, who forced a mistake from O’Sullivan with his safety, brings him back onto the table.

There’s a few accessible reds and this trip will determine if he wins the match.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-5 Robert Milkins

16:00 , Mike Jones

Ronnie O’Sullivan breaks in this deciding frame. Whoever gets in first may go on to win this match. Robert Milkins has never beaten O’Sullivan, is he about to do so this afternoon?

Milkins gets on the board first with a break of six and plays a fantastic safety shot to hide the cueball behind the green. O’Sullivan has work to do not to let Milkins back in.

He fouls trying to come off two cushions and clip a red.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-5 Robert Milkins

15:55 , Mike Jones

We’re going down to a decider!

A few misses from Ronnie O’Sullivan and a determined Robert Milkins means this match is going the distance. He’s taken the last two frames to bring the match level.

Who’s going to reach the quarter-finals?

Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-4 Robert Milkins

15:53 , Mike Jones

Oh my! Ronnie O’Sullivan rolls a nice red into the top right but bumps the blue out of the middle left. Milkins does get back to the table and knocks in a red-pink combo.

The final red is stuck on the right cushion though so his break ends at seven with a safety. All to play for in this frame yet.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-4 Robert Milkins

15:51 , Mike Jones

Milkins’ control of the cueball has been superb in this frame. Way better than O’Sullivan’s and that has been the difference so far.

Saying that, the break comes up to 46 but Milkins misplaces the cueball and overshoots where he wants it to end up. He plays it safe but the chance to win the frame goes begging.

He leads 47-24 though. If he can get in again, that should be that.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-4 Robert Milkins

15:47 , Mike Jones

Foul! Robert Milkins miscues his safety and the white rolls into the top right pocket. O’Sullivan misses the next pot though and leaves Milkins on a red to the top right which he gets to drop.

Can he pull this frame back now?

Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-4 Robert Milkins

15:46 , Mike Jones

This is tense. The state of the match means that any slight error could cost someone the frame. The last thing Ronnie O’Sullivan will want is a one frame shootout.

The Englishman gets in and slides the blue into the middle right. He brings the cueball down towards the black but can’t get on the big numbered colour. A bail out puts him back on the blue but he’s struggling to place the cueball where he wants it.

A break of 20 is all he can muster before rolling the cueball to the other end of the table for a safety.

He leads 20-1 in this penultimate frame.

John Higgins 2-4 Zhou Yuelong

15:38 , Mike Jones

John Higgins needs to put in a comeback over on table two. He was 4-1 down but a mistake from Zhou lets him in and the Scot takes full advantage.

He’ll need to play better if he’s to turnaround this deficit though.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-4 Robert Milkins

15:35 , Mike Jones

What a time for a century!

Robert Milkins blazes the blue into the middle left to bring up the three figures. He was under a bit of pressure from O’Sullivan but the response is superb.

A quickfire trip around the table tidies up most of the colours and brings Milkins a break of 120. More importantly he’s up to four in frames.

Two more needed to win the match.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-3 Robert Milkins

15:30 , Mike Jones

Now then, can Robert Milkins capitalise. He’s got himself in and quickly flies through a break of 28 before options become limited. Separating the reds will be the key to this game.

He pots a red to the bottom left but the black isn’t on. He switches to the pink and guides it into the middle left. The frame is his for the taking now.

He needs this one...

Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-3 Robert Milkins

15:24 , Mike Jones

It does! The break ends at 83 and moves him to within one frame of a place in the quarter-finals. Robert Milkins has it all to do now. At best there may be a couple of more frames, but O’Sullivan is flying.

It’ll be some comeback from here if Milkins can do it.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-3 Robert Milkins

15:23 , Mike Jones

O’Sullivan is in full flow. He nails another long pot into the bottom left corner and continues his scoring. A combination of red-black, red-black, red-black makes quick work of the loose balls down the bottom end of the table.

There’s two clusters that need dealing with, one next to the pink spot and one over to the right side of the table. O’Sullivan goes past 50 in his break and starts clearing the reds near the pink.

He moves 73 ahead with 67 remaining on the table. The frame is going to fall his way...

Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-3 Robert Milkins

15:17 , Mike Jones

O’Sullivan’s exuberence in potting the blue to the middle left leaves the cueball in an awkward position and there’s nothing on for him. He plays safe, leaving the cueball next to the top cushion and sits down with a lead of 6.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-3 Robert Milkins

15:15 , Mike Jones

Now then, a bit of tactical play to start the eighth frame. The reds are spread out nicely but the cueball is playing placed at the far end of the table.

Milkins comes down the table and gets a double kiss off a red he wanted to pot into the bottom left. That leaves O’Sullivan with a fine pot to the middle right and he’s the man who takes the first point.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-3 Robert Milkins

15:08 , Mike Jones

Just what the doctor ordered!

Ronnie O’Sullivan let Robert Milkins in and he’s been punished for it. Milkins ends a run of four frames without a win with a well worked break of 91.

He only trails by one now and it’s very much game on. The next frame could be crucial.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-2 Robert Milkins

15:01 , Mike Jones

Robert Milkins needs to win this frame. It’s an almost impossible task to win four in a row against Ronnie O’Sullivan and that’s what Milkins will need to do if he loses here.

Both men pot a red but O’Sullivan misses his colour to the middle right. Milkins has the chance he needed. Can he take it?

Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-2 Robert Milkins

14:56 , Mike Jones

He needs two breaks to do it, the first sees O’Sullivan fly round the table for 49 points before playing safe and leaving Milkins with another testing defensive shot.

He miscues and O’Sullivan cleans up with a break of 28 to take the frame. He leads by two and that’s four frames won on the bounce now.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-2 Robert Milkins

14:51 , Mike Jones

Oh no. He’s given himself a nice lead following a break of 52 but Milkins misses a red to the middle right pocket when trying to set himself up for a screw back down to set up the black.

The balls are all in favourable positions so O’Sullivan should have no trouble here if he keeps his head.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-2 Robert Milkins

14:46 , Mike Jones

O’Sullivan leaves Milkins with a long pot opportunity to the top left corner. It’s not the easiest to take on but Milkins fancies his chances and rolls it home.

After putting in the pink a fine recovery shot from Milkins sees him nestle into the reds, spread them out and roll one into the left centre pocket.

The table is his for the taking now...

John Higgins 1-3 Zhou Yuelong

14:45 , Mike Jones

On table two, John Higgins has gone into the interval trailing Zhou Yuelong 3-1. The man from China has been superb taking advantage of any slight mistake from Higgins.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-2 Robert Milkins

14:42 , Mike Jones

Century! Ronnie O’Sullivan racks up the first break of over a hundred in this match.

From two frames down, O’Sullivan takes the lead for the first time. A quickfire break of 142, the highest of the tournament, earns him the frame.

The shot selection from O’Sullivan was seriously impressive. His positional play o the cueball was faultless and if he continues in this way, this match won’t last very long at all.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 2-2 Robert Milkins

14:34 , Mike Jones

Back on table one, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Robert Milkins continue their contest. O’Sullivan is the first to score, thanks to a break of six, but need to play safe as there’s not much on for him.

Ronnie O’Sullivan is our greatest sportsman – and the most devastatingly honest

14:29 , Mike Jones

There is a scene in Edge of Everything, the new documentary about Ronnie O’Sullivan, that provides as sharp an analysis as you will ever see of the pressures of top level sport. It is from footage taken in his dressing room during the final of the 2022 World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.

At 46, O’Sullivan is poised to become the oldest winner of the title in history. But as he takes a break in the scrabble to overcome his opponent Judd Trump, he is behaving less like a seasoned veteran and more like a panicked teenager, stomping around the room in total dismay, close to tears in his frustration.

“Fuck me Steve,” he tells his resident psychiatrist coach Dr Steve Peters. “I’m bashed up here mate. What do I do?”

In a world of PR sports documentaries, Ronnie O’Sullivan proves he is the real thing

Ronnie O’Sullivan ‘couldn’t go without drink and drugs’ and reveals biggest regret

14:23 , Mike Jones

Ronnie O’Sullivan has revealed he could not go without alcohol and drugs during his battle with addiction and said he went out “every day and every night” for six years.

In an interview with the Stick to Football podcast, the seven-time World Snooker Champion said he “hated” himself during his last three years of his addiction and had to lock himself in his room to get clean.

The 47-year-old, whose struggles with substance abuse are explored in his new documentary The Edge of Everything, also said his “biggest regret” was drinking to get through “bad times”.

Ronnie O’Sullivan ‘couldn’t go without drink and drugs’ and reveals biggest regret

John Higgins 1-2 Zhou Yuelong

14:17 , Mike Jones

Over on table two, John Higgins is taking on Zhou Yuelong. The 25-year-old from China is currently winning that match 2-1 with one frame to go before an interval.

This has been a more thoughtful and delicate match-up with both players matching each other’s styles. Can Higgins take the last frame and go into the break on level terms?

Ronnie O’Sullivan 2-2 Robert Milkins

14:13 , Mike Jones

That’s been an interesting session. Robert Milkins is having better pot success than Ronnie O’Sullivan but his safety play has been poor.

O’Sullivan has made too many errors which shouldn’t be the case after the break. The winner of this one may be whoever makes the fewer mistakes.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 2-2 Robert Milkins

14:11 , Mike Jones

No. A break of 24 moves him within 17 points of O’Sullivan but the last red is lined up with the bottom left pocket. Ronnie plays it long and nails the shot.

The frame should be his now. The yellow is potted twice, then the green, the brown and the blue. A final break of 23 ends with the pink dropping and O’Sullivan goes into the interval all square.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 1-2 Robert Milkins

14:09 , Mike Jones

Using the rest, Milkins nails the pink into the bottom right and splits two reds apart opening up the table in the process. There’s an annoying red positioned over on the right side of the table which could cause an issue but Milkins is potting well.

He could clean up from here but will he?

Ronnie O’Sullivan 1-2 Robert Milkins

14:07 , Mike Jones

A second break of 6 for Milkins keeps him chipping away at O’Sullivan’s total but the Rocket’s response is to knock the cueball next to the top cushion for a safety.

He’s been the better player of defensive shots this afternoon and will be patient enough to wait for a mistake, if it comes. O’Sullivan leads 53-12.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 1-2 Robert Milkins

14:04 , Mike Jones

Chance! A break of 53, and with O’Sullivan looking comfortable, he bumps the black out of the pocket and opens the door for Milkins to come back into the frame.

He responds with a break of six.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 1-2 Robert Milkins

14:03 , Mike Jones

There’s a couple of positional errors from O’Sullivan meaning he has to move into the middle of the table and play off the blue to extend his break. He recovers well and manages to come back down the table to slot in the black.

After spinning the cueball into the reds, O’Sullivan opens them up and has both the pink and black in play. He passes the 50 mark with eight reds left on the table.

Milkins is looking rueful...

Ronnie O’Sullivan 1-2 Robert Milkins

14:00 , Mike Jones

Robert Milkins makes a good break in the fourth frame bouncing a couple of reds off the cushions to leave them all clustered together.

Ronnie O’Sullivan leaves the cueball in a testing position for Milkins, forcing him to go into the reds with his next shot. He clips a loose one trying to work the cueball back to the top end of the table and O’Sullivan has a straight line of sight to start scoring points.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 1-2 Robert Milkins

13:57 , Mike Jones

That’s better!

Ronnie O’Sullivan doesn’t let Robert Milkins back onto the table and wonderful and electric break of 86 gives him the third frame and he’s back in the contest.

One frame to go before a break, will O’Sullivan go in on level terms or can Milkins get another one on the board?

Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-2 Robert Milkins

13:51 , Mike Jones

O’Sullivan is not at the races at all here. Milkins leaves him with a relatively simple pot to the bottom left. He has to bridge the reds closest to the cueball and bounces it around meaning the red richochets off the pocket and doesn’t go in.

Milkins can’t capitalise though and O’Sullivan starts his next break after another poor safety shot from his opponent.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-2 Robert Milkins

13:48 , Mike Jones

There’s not much room left for error for Ronnie O’Sullivan. If he loses this frame too then Robert Milkins will be halfway to the required six frames to win the match.

It’s a positive start to the third though as O’Sullivan notches up four points before playing safe and testing out Milkins’ defensive play.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-2 Robert Milkins

13:46 , Mike Jones

Well played Robert Milkins.

A break of 63 brings him the second frame as well. Ronnie O’Sullivan looks at his feet as he knows he’s let Milkins win both of those opening frames.

O’Sullivan fought back from two-down against Anthony McGill to win 6-2. Will he does so again this afternoon?

Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-1 Robert Milkins

13:41 , Mike Jones

Or maybe not. O’Sullivan now errs after missing the pink into the middle right. The door is open again for Milkins who trails 37-1...

Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-1 Robert Milkins

13:40 , Mike Jones

A fine cannon off two reds keeps O’Sullivan on the table. As this break goes on the more reds are being forced into play. A superb red down the table falls into the top left pocket in a sign that the Rocket has discovered the pace of the table.

He puts a bit of power into screwing the cueball off the brown but the colour doesn’t go in. O’Sullivan’s break ends at 36 and Milkins comes up to the table.

The opportunity is strong to go big here but he leaves the black hovering over the pocket. Opportunity missed.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-1 Robert Milkins

13:36 , Mike Jones

Milkins’ break leaves a long pot to the bottom right for O’Sullivan who takes it on despite a few errors in the opening frame. There’s no such mistake here as he smokes it into the pocket and leaves himself on the brown.

There’s not a great deal else on after O’Sullivan knocks in another red-brown combo but he spins the cueball down to the bottom half of the table to play off two open reds near the black.

A slight positional error leaves him with a difficult cut on the black but when that drops the crowd gives him a ripple of applause. O’Sullivan’s break is up to 18 and counting...

Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-1 Robert Milkins

13:32 , Mike Jones

Milkins takes the first frame!

A double kiss on the green from O’Sullivan leaves it on to the top right and Milkins rolls it home followed quickly by the brown and blue.

The perfect start for Milkins.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-0 Robert Milkins

13:29 , Mike Jones

Now it’s a battle.

O’Sullivan is chipping away at the colours and rolls in the yellow before going safe. Milkins is up to the task but bumps the green off the middle pocket setting up a long pot for his opponent.

O’Sullivan misses it and Milkins can’t slot the green home with his next effort. This ball may decide the frame.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-0 Robert Milkins

13:27 , Mike Jones

Milkins adds 12 points with his break to move 19 ahead of O’Sullivan. He tries to hide the cueball behind the yellow but O’Sullivan comes off the cushion with a superb shot to knock it into the bottom left corner.

He places safe and goes for the snooker knowing he needs the majority of the colours to catch up.

O’Sullivan 25-43 Milkins.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-0 Robert Milkins

13:24 , Mike Jones

The brown is the only colour currently on it’s own spot. It makes cleaning up the table pretty tricky but O’Sullivan nestles in a red followed by the green to move it back up to the top end of the table.

There are five reds left in play but O’Sullivan hasn’t been able to pile on big points with the black, blue and pink in awkward positions.

A break of 19 takes comes to an end as the brown bobbles out of the pocket. Milkins has a good chance to take the frame now.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-0 Robert Milkins

13:21 , Mike Jones

O’Sullivan flicks a red into the left side cushion and leaves is by the yellow halfway down the table. Milkins makes an error from his next safety and leaves a simple straight pot to the top left for O’Sullivan to get a break going.

The green drops next and he spins the cueball back down the table to position it for the remaining reds. He nestles one into the middle right but leaves the cueball over the pocket.

It’s poor positional play and O’Sullivan has to bail out after a short break. Milkins leads 31-5.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-0 Robert Milkins

13:18 , Mike Jones

The break moved a few reds out of the pack and Robert Milkins goes about his way of mopping them up and using the black as his primary colour of choice. He quickly moves to a break of 31 but smashes into the cluster of reds and doesn’t have a follow up colour available to pot.

He plays safe and leaves the table to O’Sullivan.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-0 Robert Milkins

13:16 , Mike Jones

Ronnie O’Sullivan is breaking off for the first of a potential 11 frames. Robert Milkins’ follow up leaves O’Sullivan with a long pot down to the bottom left pocket.

He misses the ball in an attempt to leave himself on the black and Milkins gets points on the board first.

Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-0 Robert Milkins

13:11 , Mike Jones

The players head out to the table. The pre-match talk has been about whether Robert Milkins has the patience and safety play to challenge Ronnie O’Sullivan today.

We’re about to find out.

UK Snooker Championship LIVE

13:05 , Mike Jones

We’re not too far away from all the action in York. A reminder that these matches remain best-of-11 contests so six frames are required for victory.

We’re just waiting for the players to head out to the tables.

UK Snooker Championship LIVE

13:01 , Mike Jones

Here we go. Coverage from the York Barbican is just getting started on BBC Two.

We’ll be following Ronnie O’Sullivan’s match against Robert Milkins this afternoon with the odd update from John Higgins’ clash against Zhou Yuelong.

UK Snooker Championship LIVE

12:57 , Mike Jones

It should be a fascinating afternoon in York, here’s reminder of today’s matches:

The 2023/24 snooker season so far

12:52 , Mike Jones

The UK Championship is the first Triple Crown event of the snooker season, which began in June and runs until the World Championship in the spring.

Here’s a look at the season so far (* denotes non-ranking event):

Championship League, 26 June-21 July (Winner: Shaun Murphy)

European Masters, 22-27 August (Barry Hawkins)

Shanghai Masters, 11-17 September (Ronnie O’Sullivan) *

British Open, 25 September-1 October (Mark Williams)

English Open, 2-8 October (Judd Trump)

Wuhan Open, 9-15 October (Judd Trump)

Northern Ireland Open, 22-29 October (Judd Trump)

International Championship, 5-12 November (Zhang Anda)

Champion of Champions, 13-19 November (Mark Allen) *

How to watch Ronnie O’Sullivan documentary The Edge of Everything

12:46 , Mike Jones

Snooker fans are set to be offered new insight into the character of Ronnie O’Sullivan with the launch of a documentary on the seven-time world champion.

Regarded as perhaps the sport’s greatest ever player, Ronnie O’Sullivan: The Edge of Everything will feature previously unseen footage of O’Sullivan as a child and junior player, along with classic clips from snooker’s archive.

It also follows the 47-year-old’s pursuit of that seventh world title, including exclusive audio and footage of the moments after O’Sullivan’s record-equalling Crucible triumph over Judd Trump.

How to watch Ronnie O’Sullivan documentary The Edge of Everything

Ronnie O’Sullivan on his new Amazon documentary: ‘It was harrowing watching it back’

12:41 , Mike Jones

Through the door of a swish London hotel, held open by a concierge; into the dimly lit lobby, past an open fire and smart dinner guests, into a shiny lift; down a corridor lined with abstract art, around a bend to the very end where the last door waits in semi-darkness; through to a suite with a long table scattered with sandwiches and cream scones – Ronnie O’Sullivan’s favourite food – where his agent and various publicists mill; to a leather sofa at the far end.

This is where O’Sullivan is holed up, an hour before his movie premiere in London’s Leicester Square. He emerges from another room with a smile, offers a fist bump and sits down. He is dressed in a blue jumper, dark jeans and smart shoes. Executive producer David Beckham is among the famous guests coming to celebrate O’Sullivan, journalists are here to ask questions and fans are sitting in cinemas around the country to watch the film and a live Q&A afterwards. And he’s dreading it.

“If I’d have looked at the contract before doing this and it said you’ve got to do a premiere, I’d have probably said, ‘that’s me out then’,” O’Sullivan says with a grin. “When we started, they said there’s going to be a film festival and I was like, ‘I’ve got to go to that?’ They were like, ‘yeah’. I was like, ‘f**k’.

Ronnie O’Sullivan on his new documentary: ‘It was harrowing watching it back’

Ronnie O’Sullivan advances at UK Championship after winning six straight frames against Anthony McGill

12:36 , Mike Jones

Ronnie O’Sullivan reeled off six frames in a row to seal a 6-2 win over Anthony McGill in the first round of the UK Championship at the York Barbican.

The seven-time world champion was back in action after withdrawing from the Champion of Champions event in Bolton a fortnight ago, due to being “mentally drained and stressed”.

McGill took a 2-0 lead, thanks to a 116 break in the opening frame and a shock looked on the cards. However, O’Sullivan took control, firing five half-centuries on his way to winning six frames in a row.

O’Sullivan advances at UK Championship after winning six straight frames

Judd Trump to face Mark Selby in next round

12:30 , Mike Jones

“I feel like if I can get through those first couple of rounds then I’m playing amazing and it takes something really special to beat me,” Judd Trump told the BBC following his win over Jamie Jones yesterday.

“A lot of other players perform the same in all conditions, but my cue action, where I come across the ball and hit with a little bit of side at impact, I have to get used to how the table is playing with side a lot more than other players.

“The first game I am really nervous, but when I know how I am playing on the table it just becomes easy for me.”

Trump will face Mark Selby in the last eight after his late-night last-frame win over Barry Hawkins.

He added: “I am full of confidence, but also the opposition hasn’t stood up to me, which sometimes I don’t really like because you get through too easy and you’re not pushed,

“I know in the next game whoever I play, I am going to have to up my standard.”

Judd Trump earns 950th career century as he reaches UK Championship quarter-finals

12:22 , Mike Jones

Judd Trump stormed into the quarter-finals of the UK Championship with a 6-0 win over Jamie Jones in York.

The 34-year-old had been suffering the apparent effects of flu as he arrived at the tournament, but followed up his opening 6-1 victory over Pang Junxu with another convincing display.

Trump – who became only the fifth player in history to win three back-to-back ranking tournaments last month – never looked back after starting with a break of 100, for a 950th career century.

Trump earns 950th career century as he reaches UK Championship quarter-finals

How much is the prize fund?

12:15 , Mike Jones

Competing players share total prize money of £1,205,000, with the winner in line to receive £250,000.

An additional £15,000 is available to the player who compiles the highest break, while two maximums made across any of the three Triple Crown events this season will be rewarded with a £147,000 bonus.

How to watch the UK Championship

12:10 , Mike Jones

The UK Championship began on Saturday 25 November and will conclude with the final on Sunday 3 December at the Barbican in York. 32 players compete in the main draw.

The BBC will provide coverage of the tournament, with Thursday’s matches starting from 13:00-17:15 on BBC Two and then the evening session starting at 19:00-20:00, BBC Two. Highlights begin at 23:15-00:05 on BBC Two.

UK Snooker Championship - Tuesday 30 November schedule

12:05 , Mike Jones

From 1pm

Ronnie O’Sullivan v Robert Milkins

John Higgins v Zhou Yuelong

From 7pm

Hossein Vafaei v Matthew Selt

Zhang Anda v Luca Brecel

UK Snooker Championship LIVE

12:00 , Mike Jones

The round of 16 continues today with Ronnie O’Sullivan in action against Robert Milkins and John Higgins taking on China’s Zhou Yuelong.

O’Sullivan came from two frames down to defeat Anthony McGill 6-2 in his opening contest while Higgins have a similarly easy match against Joe O’Connor, triumphing 6-3. Things are set to get trickier for both men as they take to the table for the second round looking to set up a quarter-final clash with each other.

Yesterday’s action saw Judd Trump storm into the quarter-finals with a 6-0 win over Jamie Jones. The 34-year-old had been suffering the apparent effects of flu as he arrived at the tournament, but followed up his opening 6-1 victory win over Pang Junxu with another convincing display, including a break of 100 to start the match, for a 950th career century.

On the other table, Ding Junhui saw off Tom Ford 6-3 to reach the last eight thanks to breaks of 126 and 110, although Ford did hit back with runs of 118 and 98 to level the match. But, Ding took the eighth frame and then closed out victory with a break of 106, which should secure his place in next year’s Masters.

Today’s action gets underway at 1pm GMT.