Sheffield (Agencies): Six-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan moved into the semi-finals of the World Championship with a comfortable 13-5 win over Stephen Maguire.
O’Sullivan, the world number one, led 11-5 overnight and compiled breaks of 71 and 126 to seal victory in 20 minutes.
His win sees him reach a 13th Crucible semi-final, one more than Stephen Hendry’s tally of 12. He will now face either four-time winner John Higgins or Jack Lisowski.
“I stayed focused and tried everything. There is a toolbox, you try and use everything in there and play your own game,” O’Sullivan said.
“I’d rather not be playing here because it is a hard tournament. “I’ve always said that this and the Masters are my two worst tournaments. I actually prefer going to Leicester to play in the Championship League, but you kind of have to show up to this one and give this one your best.”
Meanwhile, the 2015 winner Stuart Bingham came from 5-3 down to move level at 8-8 against an out-of-sorts Judd Trump.
Trump, who took the title in 2019, struggled to get going with miscues and a series of missed pots providing Bingham with plenty of encouragement as he rattled off four half centuries, winning five frames in a row for a healthy 8-5 lead.
But after a dismal first five frames, where he had failed to make a break over 30, Trump was given a reprieve as Bingham missed a black off its spot and the world number three made a break of 41 on his way to reducing the deficit to 8-6.
A composed break of 89 followed after Bingham left a red over the top right corner pocket and, with the frame secured, he showed his mood had improved by comically moving the pink ball (which was blocking a pot on the brown) with his cue after distracting the referee Ben Williams by pointing to the crowd. Trump won the final frame at two visits to leave the match finely balanced heading into its final session at 19:00 BST.
O’Sullivan stays on course for landmark title
O’Sullivan is now just two victories away from a record-equalling seventh Crucible crown in the modern era, a landmark held by Hendry since 1999.
After running away with the first two sessions of the match, Wednesday morning’s conclusion proved a formality for ‘The Rocket’, who fittingly confirmed his progression with his highest break of the match and his seventh century of the tournament. “I didn’t lose it in the first session because you can come back from 6-2, but last night the game was finished,” Maguire said.
“I wish it had ended last night. I don’t like getting beat. It hurts.”
