UK Championship Day 1 LIVE: O’Sullivan begins against Hawkins, Murphy also in action

Hawkins first at the table in this frame, potting a red coming off the cushion first and landing perfectly on the black.

This frame gets off to a slower start, with both playing good safety.

O’Sullivan takes the first frame with a break of 128. Wonderful stuff. There won’t be many better in the tournament.

There’s the first century of the tournament in the opening frame. Just poetry in motion. He has the cue ball on a string.

The frame is won – and a total clearance looks nailed on the way he is playing.

It looks a refreshed Ronnie as he makes a half-century – and is still going. ‘Angles’ McManus reckons Ronnie looking to go into the pack early in breaks might be a point of emphasis for him this week.

Hawkins breaks and O’Sullivan slots home a long red and then a long blue, and another fairly tricky mid-range red – albeit after wiping its feet. He looks on!

We are about to get underway.

Ronnie O’Sullivan will begin his UK Championship campaign shortly. Live on discovery+. Shaun Murphy and Zhao Xintong are also underway shortly and we will keep you up-to-date on this potentially mouth-watering match up. You can also watch this live.

Ding Junhui-Robert Milkins and Xiao Guodong-David Gilbert play this evening.