World Grand Prix snooker: Ronnie O'Sullivan thumps Gary Wilson to set up semi-final clash with Ding Junhui
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 19/01/2024 at 17:29 GMT
Ronnie O'Sullivan motored into his 91st ranking semi-final with a dominant 5-1 victory against Gary Wilson. Wilson took a cagey opening frame, which awoke the world No. 1 to produce some of his finest snooker and book a place in the last four, where he will meet Ding Junhui. The backdrop of the game focused on O'Sullivan's recent morose mood, but he looked in fine fettle here.
No Filter: Behind the scenes as O'Sullivan wins record eighth Masters crown
Ronnie O'Sullivan sealed his place in the World Grand Prix semi-finals with a 5-1 win over Gary Wilson.
The Rocket motored into the last four amid the backdrop of his comments about needing a break from the sport.
Despite frequently expressing dissatisfaction with his recent performances, the world No. 1 had few issues dispatching Wilson and can now look forward to a semi-final clash with Ding Junhui.
For O’Sullivan’s relative comfort in the end, Wilson drew first blood in a cagey opening frame.
Wilson's clearance of 44 was enough to complete the job after finishing with a black over the green pocket and proceeded to see out the frame.
That was as good as it got for Wilson, as O'Sullivan took control from that point, suddenly finding his flow after landing himself amongst the reds and working towards a break of 68.
What followed was the Rocket at his very best, as he opened up the reds off the black and was would make a 103 - his third century of the week.
O'Sullivan increased his lead to two after Wilson potted a red into the top corner and left the cue ball ideally positioned for the seven-time world champion to build up another sizeable break - not quite a century on this occasion, but a clearance of 78 left him two frames away from a last-four berth.
It looked like Wilson may have got himself a foothold in the contest in frame five, but O'Sullivan punished him for a poor shot with 51 points left on the table, with the former holding a 52-point lead.
O'Sullivan threatened to end the match with another big clearance when Wilson missed a long red by some way, but the world No. 1 could not quite take full advantage and ended on a 54-point haul.
But he managed to hit the pink at the second attempt, and was able to complete the job when Wilson inadvertently opened up a pack of reds for him.
O’Sullivan rounded off the match in style with a knock of 58, and headed into a 91st ranking event semi-final.
Awaiting in the last four is Ding, after he eased past Zhang Anda in an all-Chinese clash.
Ding lost the opening frame before rattling off four in a row to take control of the best-of-nine encounter.
Zhang got one back in the sixth frame but it only delayed the inevitable, with Ding getting over the line to set up another clash with O'Sullivan.
The pair met in the final of the UK Championship in December and in the first round of the Masters, with The Rocket winning on both occasions.
- - -
Stream top snooker action live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement