2015 Masters Round 1 Tues 13th Jan 2015

Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-4 Ricky Walden

Defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan equalled Stephen Hendry's all-time centuries record of 775 as he beat Ricky Walden 6-4 in the Masters.

O'Sullivan compiled hundreds in the sixth and 10th frame in the first round at Alexandra Palace in London.



Walden failed to capitalise on opportunities as O'Sullivan went 5-1 ahead before his opponent hit back.



He made a hundred of his own and took another two but O'Sullivan progressed and faces Marco Fu in the next round.


"I could have had it earlier on," O'Sullivan told BBC Sport. "You start to make silly mistakes when you are chasing a record. I scraped over the line."

Hendry, who turned 46 today, reacted by saying: "I am not bothered, it was a matter of time [before it was beaten]."

O'Sullivan began the tournament on 773 career tons but soon matched seven-time world champion Hendry's record.

'The Rocket' was given a let off against Walden, who he defeated 6-0 at the quarter-final stage last year, when he put together a record 556 unanswered points.

Walden was on the verge of going out, but reduced the arrears to 5-4, before O'Sullivan fluked a yellow as he made the record-equalling break of 116 for victory.

In the evening match, Ali Carter faces Barry Hawkins in the first round at 19:00 GMT.




Barry Hawkins 1-6 Ali Carter

Ali Carter made quick work of Barry Hawkins with a 6-1 win in the first round of the Masters in London.

Carter was given the all-clear by doctors in December after developing a cancerous tumour on his lung, months after beating testicular cancer.


He made a superb start to the match with breaks of 95 and 50 to hold a 3-1 lead at the mid-session interval.


A century followed as he extended his advantage to 5-1, and he took the next frame to seal a comprehensive victory.


Carter received a standing ovation into the arena and said it was "a dream come true" to be playing in such a big event.


The 35-year-old missed the first five months of this season, before winning the General Cup, a non-ranking event held in Hong Kong in October.


He then played in the invitational Champions of Champions event in November and the UK Championship later that month, before getting the all-clear.


But he was untroubled in this match and sets up a meeting with Australia's Neil Robertson in the quarter-finals.