O'Sullivan eliminated on opening day of Shenzhen Open

Seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan was eliminated from the Shenzhen Open on the tournament's opening day, 28 September 2026, with world number one Zhao Xintong and defending champion Mark Williams also knocked out that day.

O'Sullivan, who has not won a ranking title since January 2024, lost 5-2 to China's Jiang Jun. Jiang, ranked 64th, took the first two frames before O'Sullivan levelled with breaks of 92 and 52; Jiang then won the next three frames and sealed a 5-2 second-round victory with a break of 108.

Scott Donaldson produced a shock by beating Zhao Xintong, the world number one and 2025 world champion, in a final-frame decider. Scotland's Donaldson, who is 65 places below Zhao in the rankings, compiled breaks of 77, 105, 50 and 62 as he recovered from 3-2 down to claim the win.

Defending champion Mark Williams was beaten 5-4 by China's Fan Zhengyi after fouling on the final pink. The loss eliminated Wales' Williams on the opening day of the event.

England's Judd Trump recorded a 5-0 victory over China's Huang Jiahao and moves into the last 16 after Anthony McGill, his scheduled third-round opponent, withdrew on medical grounds.

In other second-round results on Monday, Australia's Neil Robertson beat China's Liu Hongyu 5-2, England's Chris Wakelin defeated Wales' Liam Davies 5-3, and China's Si Jiahui prevailed 5-1 against England's Oliver Lines. Belgium's Ben Mertens also advanced after Northern Ireland's Mark Allen withdrew for personal reasons.

First-round winners who progressed on Monday included Wales' Jamie Clarke, England's Andrew Higginson, Hong Kong's Marco Fu and England's Sam Craigie.

Jiang Jun will meet England's Zak Surety in the next round, Scott Donaldson is set to play China's Pang Junxu in round three, and Judd Trump is through to the last 16 following McGill's withdrawal.