Ronnie O’Sullivan produced a morale-boosting show to succeed in the sixth spherical of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters on Tuesday in Jeddah.
Getting into the fray of the profitable rating occasion within the final 32, the Rocket had a troublesome opening opponent within the type of Joe O’Connor.
However O’Sullivan swept apart the Championship League Snooker runner-up with a routine 5-0 victory on the Inexperienced Halls.
It was a disappointing 2024/25 marketing campaign for the seven-time world champion, who did not characteristic in a single remaining of any occasion on the calendar.
Bereft of kind amid ongoing struggles along with his cue, O’Sullivan withdrew from a slew of tournaments earlier than struggling a heavy defeat to eventual world champion Zhao Xintong on the Crucible Theatre.
Nevertheless, O’Sullivan has not too long ago began enjoying with a cue made by fellow skilled Sunny Akani – one that he’s at the moment proud of.
“I felt I performed okay,” Ronnie O’Sullivan, who lives in neighbouring Dubai and who opened an academy in Riyadh final 12 months, informed the World Snooker Tour.
“I don’t know, it’s alright enjoying effectively in a single match. You must attempt to put it collectively for a complete event. That’s what I used to be used to doing, that’s what I’d like to have the ability to do once more.”
“I’ve obtained a great cue right here. Sunny has made me this one, which was nice, so I mentioned to make me a pair extra.
“Typically you assume it is likely to be a fluke in the event that they make a great one, however I’ve used three or 4 of his cues and so they’re all nice.
“So I’m like, ‘improbable, I would smash this one and simply get one other one!’ Sunny is a really clever man, and he makes unbelievable cues.
“For me, after having such a poor enjoying kind, it’s extra vital to play effectively. Play some good matches one after one other.
“That, I’d be actually proud of. As soon as I get that again, then I’ll possibly begin desirous to win tournaments and sacrificing not enjoying so nice.
“I do know you may’t play effectively on a regular basis, but it surely’d be good to get into the move of placing good matches collectively.
“As soon as you are able to do that, you can begin interested by successful ugly for a couple of matches simply to get some trophies.”
O’Sullivan will play Chang Bingyu subsequent after the younger Chinese language competitor prolonged his long term within the occasion with a 5-4 defeat of Mark Allen.
Chang is again on the principle tour this season following the conclusion of his ban and seems like a participant intent on making up for misplaced time.
The 23 year-old, who was caught up within the Chinese language match-fixing scandal from a couple of years in the past, has misplaced simply one of many ten matches he has performed this season to date.
Past that, O’Sullivan might doubtlessly face Kyren Wilson in what could be a repeat of their quarter-final tie on the current Shanghai Masters.
Wilson beat O’Sullivan that day and went on to assert the distinguished invitational crown, with the latter echoing many individuals’s perception that the Kettering cueist is among the many greatest gamers on this planet at current.
“I believe Kyren was simply phenomenal in China,” Ronnie O’Sullivan added. “I’ve performed him a few occasions, and he performs at a John Higgins type of stage of prime play.”
“It’s in all probability the largest praise you can provide somebody. However I all the time wish to assume that if I’m on it, I can all the time discover a solution to win.”
Wilson was barely lucky to remain alive on this occasion, although, with the world quantity two having to pressure his manner again from 4-2 behind to disclaim Iulian Boiko in a deciding body.
The Warrior will meet Si Jiahui within the final 16, one in every of 4 Chinese language contenders nonetheless left within the 2025 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters draw.
One of many others is Zhao, who orchestrated one other unbelievable show of heavy scoring to thump Steven Hallworth with a 5-0 scoreline.
The 28 year-old compiled breaks of 132, 106, 97, 94, and 92 in a ruthless displaying of what he’s able to when in prime kind.
Zhao will play Chris Wakelin who managed to finish Farakh Ajaib’s glorious journey from the opening spherical of the competitors.
The opposite two gamers to make it by on Tuesday night have been Ding Junhui and Barry Hawkins, who ousted Stephen Maguire and Martin O’Donnell respectively.
Earlier, there have been a few shocks with reigning champion Judd Trump exiting the operating after succumbing to a 5-3 reverse in opposition to Oliver Traces.
John Higgins additionally bowed out after being pipped in a decider by Elliot Slessor.
Final 12 months’s runner-up Mark Williams superior, although, alongside different marquee names in Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, and Shaun Murphy.
2025 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters draw
Final 16 (bo11)
Matches on Wednesday, August thirteenth
11am UTC+1 (BST)
Oliver Traces vs Ali Carter
Neil Robertson vs Mark Selby
Elliot Slessor vs Stuart Bingham
Shaun Murphy vs Mark Williams
5:30pm UTC+1 (BST)
Kyren Wilson vs Si Jiahui
Chang Bingyu vs Ronnie O’Sullivan
Ding Junhui vs Barry Hawkins
Chris Wakelin vs Zhao Xintong
The total up to date draw is on the market at snooker.org
Featured picture credit score: WST
