Ronnie O’Sullivan v Si Jiahui LIVE: World Snooker Championship updates as ‘The Rocket’ leads quarter-final
Ronnie O’Sullivan continues his quest for a history-making eighth world title against Si Jiahui after John Higgins takes 5-3 lead over fellow ‘Class of ‘92’ veteran Mark Williams
Ronnie O’Sullivan is already in control of his record-extending 23rd World Snooker Championship quarter-final against Si Jiahui as ‘The Rocket’ continues his bid for a history-making eighth world title.
O’Sullivan wasted little time in securing a routine 13-4 win over Pang Junxu in the second round at the Crucible Theatre and now leads talented youngster Si, who shockingly made the semi-finals here in 2023 at the age of just 20, 6-2 after their first session on Tuesday afternoon.
Now 22, the Chinese star has established himself in the top 16 but a best-of-25 clash against the greatest snooker player of all time still represents a huge challenge for the fearless potter and any errors during the first eight frames were punished by a ruthless O’Sullivan, who will look to break the back of the best-of-25 contest when the second session resumes at 10am on Wednesday.
Before O’Sullivan v Si got underway in Sheffield, another mouthwatering quarter-final clash begun in the morning session as snooker legends John Higgins and Mark Williams squared off once again. Both men turned professional in 1992, the same year as O’Sullivan, and celebrate their 50th birthdays this year but are still at the top of their game. The quarter-final got off to a compelling start as Higgins raced into a 5-1 lead but Welshman Williams dug deep to claim the final two frames of the session and trail just 5-3 heading into this evening’s second session.
Follow all the scores, results and latest updates from the World Snooker Championship below:
Ronnie O'Sullivan leads Si Jiahui 6-2 after the first session
A slightly harrowing first session for Si Jiahui in the end. He took a while to get going and even when he did, any error was punished by Ronnie O’Sullivan. That missed black in frame seven in particular might haunt him.
The Rocket leads 6-2 overnight, with the next session starting at 10am tomorrow morning before the final session at 7pm tomorrow evening.
Can Si mount any sort of fightback? We’ll have to see
Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-2 Si Jiahui - O'SULLIVAN WINS FRAME EIGHT
O’Sullivan wraps the frame up as he moves 70 points ahead with just 67 available. Can he finish this session with a flourish and make a century?
He tries to cannon a red away from the pink and misses but then pulls out a double to right middle to keep the break alive!
And he goes on to make the ton. The pink after he final red gets him through the 100 mark. In the end it’s a break of 121 and Ronnie O’Sullivan wins frame eight to lead 6-2. He already has one foot in the semi-final.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-2 Si Jiahui
Oof. A pink to left middle wipes its feet, wriggles but drops in on 17. O’Sullivan’s cueball control is as immaculate as ever though and he builds a healthy lead.
He’s suddenly 45 points in front without breaking sweat. He cannons into the pack and splits them beautifully. This is the Rocket with his swagger back
Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-2 Si Jiahui
Si’s break-off leaves a long red for O’Sullivan to have a go at and he crunches it into the heart of the pocket. A tricky yellow is dispatched with aplomb, as is a red along the cushion.
The Rocket beginning to fire on all cylinders here. If he makes it 6-2, it could be curtains for Si.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-2 Si Jiahui - O'SULLIVAN WINS FRAME SEVEN
Final red is stroked to right middle and O’Sullivan just needs the colours, all of which are on their spots.
It’s simple for the Rocket really and he mops up the balls that should have been Si’s. Punished, badly for his miss.
Ronnie O’Sullivan wins frame seven with a break of 67 to extend his lead to 5-2.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-2 Si Jiahui
This would be a painful steal to endure for Si but you know that’s exactly what Ronnie has in mind.
He cruises to 24 but a split of the reds goes slightly wrong. Leaves him a tricky cut on the red to right middle but it’s a great pot. Beautifully controlled, heart of the pocket and perfectly on the black.
There doesn’t look like any real obstacles left for him now in this break
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-2 Si Jiahui
This is more like the Si Jiahui we saw two years ago when he reached the semi-finals of the World Championship. He is timing the ball beautifully and the white is zipping round the table, directed by his wand of a cue.
His lead climbs beyond 50 but then a bad error. He misses a black off the spot. Inexplicable. His is 52-0 ahead but there’s more than enough left on for O’Sullivan to hit back here. That could be costly
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-2 Si Jiahui
O’Sullivan leaves Si a long red straight from the break-off but the Chinese star rattles the jaws. However, he has a mid-range red on his next visit and that does find the heart of the pocket.
A couple more reds with blues follow and then a lovely shot back across the table to land beautifully on a red just below the black. Then smashes into the pack to free a few.
He’s starting to look in good nick here. Break of 20 and the balls are now nicely positioned to build a big lead.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-2 Si Jiahui - SI WINS FRAME SIX
The only jeopardy left in this frame is whether Si can make the century. The answer is, he can’t, but a break of 69 and Si Jiahui wins frame six to narrow the gap to 4-2.
Nicely done and with two frames left in the session, he’ll hope to get back on level terms. Or be trailing 5-3 at the absolute worst.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-1 Si Jiahui
Even when Si doesn’t come high enough on the blue, he pulls out a nice pot to the yellow pocket. He’s working really hard in this break and you feel he knows how important it is.
Another long pot on the blue required, this time to the green pocket, and he nails it. His lead is beyond 50 points now. He needs one more colour and red to get over the line.
Crunches a long blue into the top corner! Great stuff. Then adds the blue and O’Sullivan will need snookers now. Good work from the underdog
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