Ronnie O'Sullivan makes winning start at Champion of Champions

Despite never being at his best, O'Sullivan compiled breaks of 79, 52, 89, 62 and 121 in completing victory over German Masters champion Gould, who struggled with his cue ball control.

Gould enjoyed knocks of 76 in the second frame and 62 in the fifth to close to 3-2 behind before losing the final three frames.

O'Sullivan wins Group Three at the event after completing a 4-2 win over Robin Hull in the afternoon group game. Gould was a 4-3 victor against Mark Davis.

O'Sullivan - twice a winner of event over the past three years - will have to improve with the possibility of a meeting with Mark Selby in the last four on Friday night if the world champion and world number one can win a Group Two that also includes Liang Wenbo, Mark Allen and Joe Perry.

Selby starts on Wednesday while Group One begins on Tuesday with Neil Robertson meeting Stuart Bingham and Ding Junhui facing Ali Carter.

Group Four is played out on Thursday and involves Shaun Murphy, John Higgins, Judd Trump and Anthony McGill.

Semi-Finals (best of 11 frames)

Winner Group 1 v Winner Group 4

Evening

Semi-Finals (best of 11 frames)

Winner Group 2 v Winner Group 3

Afternoon session

Final (best of 19 frames)