Ronnie O’Sullivan, the seven-time champion, is on the brink of advancing to the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship for the 22nd time after establishing a commanding 10-6 lead against Wales’ Ryan Day.
In a closely contested match, O’Sullivan initially took a 5-3 lead from the morning session on Sunday. However, he seized control in the evening session, winning five out of the first six frames, highlighted by impressive breaks including 82, 65, 89, 56, and 96.
Despite Day’s late resurgence, including breaks of 72 and 75, O’Sullivan maintained his advantage. The English veteran now requires just three more frames to secure victory and move into the quarter-finals, where he could potentially face either Jack Lisowski or Stuart Bingham.
At 48 years old, O’Sullivan is eyeing an eighth world title, which would place him one ahead of Stephen Hendry and further cement his legacy in snooker history.
Reflecting on his performance, O’Sullivan expressed satisfaction with his team’s resilience, particularly after a lackluster first half. He emphasized the importance of maintaining positive energy and intensity throughout the match, a sentiment echoed by his captain.
Meanwhile, Scotland’s Stephen Maguire secured his spot in the quarter-finals with a commanding 13-9 victory over 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy. Maguire’s fired-up display propelled him to victory, demonstrating his determination to succeed on snooker’s biggest stage.