Seven-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan reached the semi-finals of the Masters with a 6-3 win over Ryan Day.
O'Sullivan was in high scoring form, stroking in six breaks over 60, including a 119, to advance to the last four for the 14th time.
Although Welshman Day briefly led at 2-1 and made runs of 54, 68 and 77 in the match, he could not keep pace.
China's Ding Junhui and Belgian Luca Brecel meet in the evening session for the right to face O'Sullivan next.
O'Sullivan already has more Masters titles than any other player and has an incomparable semi-final record, losing just once on his previous 13 appearances in the last four.
Buoyed by a raucous crowd at his home event at Alexandra Palace in London, O'Sullivan compiled breaks of 68, 74, 65, 78 and 92, as well as his 989th career century as he aims to be become the first player to the 1,000 milestone.
The eighth frame proved to be crucial. Day was looking to level at 4-4 and led by 66 points but a poor safety let O'Sullivan in and he compiled a superb 78 clearance to clinch the frame, with the match following shortly after.
O'Sullivan won the UK Championship in York last month to take his record to 19 Triple Crown event victories - more than any other player.
Luca Brecel 5-6 Ding Junhui
Friday, 18 January
Mark Selby 2-6 Judd Trump
Barry Hawkins 3-6 Neil Robertson
Mark Selby 2-6 Judd Trump
Barry Hawkins 3-6 Neil Robertson
Judd Trump knocked world number one Mark Selby out of the Masters at the quarter-final stage with a 6-2 victory.
The match started slowly - with tactical battles meaning the opening two frames took more than an hour - but Trump found his groove to go 5-1 ahead.
Selby rallied briefly with a 110 clearance, but Trump kept his cool to ease through to Saturday's semi-final.
There he will face 2012 champion Neil Robertson, who came from behind to beat Barry Hawkins 6-3.
Englishman Hawkins made the perfect start with breaks of 62 and 72 to go 2-0 up, but Australia's Robertson responded superbly by claiming five in a row, before taking the one he needed to advance.
Friday's early match was one of contrasting styles between a gritty and mechanical Selby and the more free-flowing Trump.
The opening two frames were long, drawn-out battles - lasting 43 and 26 minutes - which would ordinarily play into Selby's hands, but Trump kept him in check with excellent safety to pinch both.
Selby pegged him back to 2-1, but Trump took control of the contest with breaks of 81, 101, and 60 and claimed victory in a prolonged 40-minute frame.
No comments:
Post a Comment