Ronnie O'Sullivan carried on at Preston on Saturday in the same scintillating form that carried him to victory in the World Championship last May in Sheffield.

Despite a four month lay off O'Sullivan swept to a 5-2 victory against Mark Davis, plundering breaks of 58, 115, 69, 41, 62 and 53 along the way. Davis ran in breaks of 69 and 100 in an entertaining opener to the Main season.

O'Sullivan was happy to get the new season started with a victory, commenting “It was nice to pick up a win. The spirit was good. I felt good, I know I can play better, but  I’ve got faith in myself.”

Dominic Dale was in similarly good form. He brushed aside Scott MacKenzie 5-1. The Welshman opened a two frame lead with breaks of 68 and 61 and pinched the third on the black. MacKenzie compiled a run of 56 to take the fourth, but then had to sit out a break of 108 from Dale. MacKenzie opened the sixth with a run of 51, but it wasn't enough and Dale cleared with 58 to secure victory on the black.

Ireland's Ken Doherty also won 5-1, against Welshman Anthony Davies, but in a more low-key affair. the Dubliner took a close first frame, lost out to a run of 58 from Davies in the second, but regained the lead with his best break of the match, 71, in the third.

Doherty added the fourth on the colours and then ran away with the next two frames.  And the Dubliner was relieved to get a win under his belt after a poor campaign last season. “Last year was a disappointing one for me but that’s history now. I’m just pleased to get off to a good start this time.”

Joe Swail was pushed hard before recording a 5-3 win over Mike Dunn. From 1-1, a breaks of 98 gave Swail the third frame, but he lost the fourth despite opening with 51.

Swail scrapped out the next two frames, lost the seventh and looked in danger of being pegged at 4-4 when Dunn opened up the eighth with a run of 55. But Swail scrambled back into the frame and eventually sneaked over the line.

RESOURCES

2004 GRAND PRIX

RESULTS

Frame Scores:

Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-2 Mark Davis

66(58)-1, 115(115)-0, 4-69(69), 55(41)-12, 69(62)-9, 1-100(100), 66(53)-25

Dominic Dale 5-1 Scott MacKenzie

77(68)-39, 89(61)-12, 65-56, 67-89(56), 108(108)-0, 67(58)-66(51)

Ken Doherty 5-1 Anthony Davies

76-46, 38(38)-78(55), 100(71)-28, 71-48, 87-17, 69-38

Joe Swail 5-3 Mike Dunn

63-52(45), 40-67, 98(98)-0, 58(51)-70, 63-48, 73-29, 25-61, 66-56(5)