O'Sullivan (L) & Carter

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Ronnie O'Sullivan opened up an 11-5 lead over Ali Carter after the first day's play in the final of the World Championship in Sheffield.

But the former two-time champion must consider himself fortunate to hold a six-frame advantage over his opponent, who is making his first appearance in a ranking final.

Carter showed his inexperience at the highest level by failing to take advantage of a number of unexpected opportunities that came his way, and could easily have left the Crucible on level terms.

But the 28-year-old has left himself with a mountain to climb after allowing O'Sullivan to take three of the final four frames, all of which could have gone his way.

Carter kept himself in the hunt after going into the interval 6-2 down, winning the next and clinging to O'Sullivan's coat tails as the pair shared the next four frames.

But runs of 86 and 57 took the world number one into a clear lead with Carter gifting O'Sullivan the 15th frame, missing an elementary yellow and then letting his opponent in again when the Rocket gave him a second bite at the cherry.

Golden opportunity

O'Sullivan was handed another golden opportunity in the final frame of the night and he took full advantage, knocking in a sumptuous break of 106 to leave Carter stunned.

Earlier in the day, Carter could have taken the very first frame but he broke down twice when amongst the balls, and O'Sullivan rattled in runs of 39 and 88 to double his lead as he went in pursuit of a third world title.

Carter failed to convert a long red in the third frame and O'Sullivan, already assured of world number one status for next season, needed no second invitation with a 99 break.

But Tiptree potter got on the scoreboard in the fourth frame, steadying the nerves with a break of 104 - the 62nd century of the tournament - after O'Sullivan had missed a long red.

But it was much the same story after the short interval - O'Sullivan's safety setting up a Carter error which provided the former champion with a run of 74.

However, the Rocket snookered himself on the final red in the next having made 40, giving up 22 points before finally escaping, only for Carter to clear from the brown.

A scrappy seventh also went O'Sullivan's way and an opening break of 47 was enough to take the closing frame of the session as well.