Ronnie O'Sullivan has taken a commanding 6-2 lead over Si Jiahui after the first session of their World Snooker Championship quarter-final at the Crucible. The seven-time world champion, aged 49, eased into the lead on Tuesday, while John Higgins and Mark Williams finished their second session level at 8-8.
O'Sullivan, along with Higgins and Williams, are part of snooker's 'Class of 92', who have a combined 14 world titles. O'Sullivan attributed their continued success to competition and love for the game. 'There was a big element of competition in the early part of our careers,' he said. 'I think that stopped a long time ago. We keep going as it is. I'm not sure how much longer we can keep going on for, though. There are so many young players coming through. I think we just love the game.'
Si Jiahui showed few signs of the form that took him to the semi-finals on his Crucible debut two years ago. He did fashion a century to level at 1-1 and rallied from 4-1 down, but a missed black off its spot when he was on the verge of reducing the deficit to a single frame proved costly. O'Sullivan cleared up and finished the session with a quickfire 121 break to put himself firmly in control.
In the other quarter-final, Higgins and Williams, who have seven world titles between them, are level at 8-8. Higgins led 5-3 after the first session, but Williams fought back, taking four of the first five frames in the second session to move ahead. Higgins hit back to level the match. The pair are taking part in the oldest last-eight clash since 1979.
Former champion Luca Brecel reduced his deficit to Judd Trump to 5-3 after the first session of their quarter-final, winning the last two frames including a break of 128. Trump fired consecutive breaks of 106 and 110 in the fourth and fifth frames. Zhao Xintong is one frame away from the semi-finals after dominating the first two sessions of his clash with Chris Wakelin, leading 12-4.
