Ronnie O’Sullivan will take a two-frame advantage over Ryan Day into this evening’s session at the World Snooker Championship, having gone 5-3 up at the conclusion of the Sunday morning session at the Crucible.
O’Sullivan, who is seeking a record-breaking eighth world title, thrashed Jackson Page 10-1 to set up the encounter against Day, who had got past Barry Hawkins 10-8.
Day got off to a positive start, but missed a routine red after 16 points. It took just seven minutes for O’Sullivan to capitalise on this mistake, wrapping up the first frame with a flawless 123 clearance.
It appeared as if the world No. 1 would be heading for back-to-back centuries in the second frame, but he missed the penultimate red to end his break on 84.
Despite trailing 2-0, Day battled back before the mid-session interval. In an error-strewn third frame for both players, the world No. 18 finally got on the board.
O’Sullivan looked out of sorts again in the fourth frame, with Day capitalising on a missed red to bring the encounter level.
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‘How intimidating it must be…’ – O’Sullivan breezes to break of 84 against Day
After returning from a brief break, O’Sullivan took the lead with a break of 83. He then raced to 51 in the sixth frame, but missed a red to give Day a chance on the table.
His opponent squandered his chance, however, and O’Sullivan added 36 to restore his two-frame advantage.
Still Day did not give up, making one of the centuries of the tournament so far with a superb 115 clearance.
O’Sullivan responded with his own dominant performance, securing a 92 break to take a 5-3 lead into this evening’s session.
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O’Sullivan superbly sinks long last red as he takes fifth frame against Day
Meanwhile, Stephen Maguire beat Shaun Murphy 13-9 to set up a quarter-final tie against David Gilbert.
Maguire had a 10-6 lead heading into this morning’s session, needing just three frames to progress.
It was a scrappy start to the 17th frame but Maguire put together 68 to increase his advantage, before Murphy dug deep to reduce the deficit to four frames again with a break of 47.
The momentum swung back in favour of Maguire, who went within one frame from victory with a break of 73.
Again Murphy clung on, this time winning two frames on the bounce with breaks of 67 and 46.
His resistance finally faltered, however, with Maguire winning the match in style after a brilliant 127. The world No. 28 will now be back in action against Gilbert on Tuesday, April 30.