Ronnie O’Sullivan rattled in three centuries as he thumped old rival John Higgins 4-0 at the inaugural Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker, a result which sets up an epic concluding day with the top four players on the planet into the semi-finals.
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The first ever WST event in Saudi Arabia will be played to a finish on Wednesday, with O’Sullivan taking on Judd Trump and Mark Allen facing Luca Brecel in the semi-finals, followed by the final in the evening.
O’Sullivan, still ranked world number one at the age of 48, has already won the Shanghai Masters, UK Championship, the Masters and World Grand Prix this season, and if he reaches the final tomorrow his prize money for the season will go into seven figures.
Despite the match starting at 1.48am, O’Sullivan looked wide awake as he made breaks of 135, 129 and 102 to lead 3-0. He had the chance to make four consecutive centuries for the first time in his career, but broke down on 82 in the fourth. A bamboozled Higgins failed to pot a ball in the four frames – his only points coming from a foul at the start of the third.
Trump edged out Shaun Murphy 4-3 in a superb contest, which Murphy looked likely to win until a crucial error in frame six. Trump has won four ranking events this season and will relish the chance to capture the £250,000 top prize.
Murphy made a sizzling start with breaks of 126 and 121 to lead 2-0, before Trump won a battle on the last red on the third, then made a 75 in the next for 2-2. World number six Murphy made an 82 to regain the lead, then he was on 58 in the sixth when his attempted pot on a short range red clipped another red and missed the target. Trump’s excellent 58-clearance made it 3-3.
In the decider, Trump made 41 before missing a red with the rest, then Murphy replied with 22. Bristol’s Trump got the better of a safety exchange and added 28 which proved enough.
“Shaun played so well, it’s a great win for me,“ said world number two Trump. “It looked all over until he missed that red at 3-2. It was a great atmosphere out there, especially when I walked in, I felt happy out there and it brought best out of both of us. I’m excited about tomorrow, it feels like a free shot.”
Allen edged out Mark Selby 4-3 in a strong contender for the most dramatic finish to a match this season. Northern Ireland’s Allen has bagged three titles already in 2023/24 and has arguably eclipsed Selby as the sport’s toughest match-player.
Selby went 2-0 up with a top break of 84, then Allen pulled one back with a 73, and led 62-0 in frame four, only for his opponent to pinch it with a 63 clearance for 3-1. Selby had clear match winning chances in the next two frames but twice missed the black off its spot, and was punished as Allen took one with a 65 clearance the other by potting the last blue and pink.
In the decider, Selby led by 45 points with two reds left, but couldn’t get past the post and it came down to the last pink and black. Allen was trapped behind the black, with the pink over a top corner, and played the cue ball off the baulk cushion to drop in the pink, then converted a tremendous double on the black to a centre pocket.
“The match had everything, it was destined to go to the last black,” said world number three Allen. “I had no choice on the final pink but to go for it. Then on the black I was always going to go out swinging and go for the double. To see it go in was a big relief.
“If you are going to learn from anyone then Mark is one of the best. If I can take parts of Mark’s game and bring them into my own then I am doing something right.
“The fans here deserved a match like that and they really got involved. The crowd has grown as the day has gone on and hopefully it will be packed tomorrow.“
World Champion Brecel looks to be coming into form as he builds towards his Crucible defence, and the Belgian looked sharp in a 4-1 win over Ali Carter.
Pictures by Zhai Zheng (@zhaizhengqd)