O'Sullivan Stalls Tyro Trump

Ronnie O'Sullivan, a junior phenomenon in his day, overcame Judd Trump, his modern equivalent, 5-3 to reach the last 16 of the Welsh Open as a sell-out crowd in Newport appreciated both the twice world champion's mature excellence and the 18-year-old Bristolian's rich promise.

Although Trump won the 45-minute second frame in a tactical struggle that showed how his game has developed in his two years on the professional circuit, O'Sullivan compiled breaks of 66, 50, 105 and 71 to open a 4-1 lead.

Trump - who at 14 years, 208 days superseded O'Sullivan as the youngest player to make a maximum break in competition - struggled to make the most of his potting and break-building ability.

"It's just so hard going from table four to table one [under the television lighting]," he said. "It feels like a different game. I kept losing position."

Trump settled to his first substantial contribution, 55, in the sixth frame and held on to win it, and fought back to take the seventh after O'Sullivan had missed a routine red when a 147 looked on. But thus reprieved, Trump made only 23 from a good mid-frame chance in the eighth and O'Sullivan clinched victory with 47.

"Great talent, looks comfortable at the table. Will judge him in 15 to 20 years' time on what tournaments he's won," was O'Sullivan's appraisal of his opponent.