SNOOKER: Ronnie O’Sullivan raced into the last 16 of the World Open in Yushan with a 5-0 whitewash of fellow Englishman Matthew Selt. 

A clearance of 138 in frame two was the highlight for the seven-time world champion, who also made breaks of 77 and 96. 

Shaun Murphy awaits O’Sullivan after he missed the yellow on 120 to fall short of a 147 maximum break in the final frame of his 5-1 win over Xu Si.

MEN’S RUGBY LEAGUE: The fifth round of Super League action kicks off tomorrow night with table-topping Wigan putting their 100 per cent record on the line against newly promoted York Knights at the Brick Community Stadium. 

Defending champions Hull KR, who sit third bottom, are not in action until Saturday evening when they visit the Catalans Dragons after Warrington have defended the league’s only other unbeaten record against Castleford.

HORSE RACING: Jockeys JJ Slevin and Gavin Sheehan have both received 14-day suspensions for excessive use of the whip during the recent Cheltenham Festival. 

Sheehan was two above the legal limit of seven strikes when steering Johnny’s Jury to victory in the Novices’ Hurdle and Slevin also used the whip nine times as he partnered 33/1 chance Home By The Lee to a surprise win in the Stayers’ Hurdle.

BASEBALL: Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez claimed two “runs batted in” as Venezuela beat the USA 3-2 to win their first ever World Baseball Classic title in Miami this morning. 

The Americans had also finished as runners-up to Japan in 2023. 

Chicago Cubs pitcher Daniel Palencia struck out Roman Anthony at the death of the ninth innings to seal the championship for the Venezuelans.