O’Sullivan Storms Into Quarters

Ronnie O’Sullivan thrashed Robert Milkins 4-0 in just 55 minutes to reach the last eight of the 888.com World Grand Prix.

The Rocket delighted a packed crowd in Llandudno as he took a tight opening frame by clearing from green to black, before reeling off the next three with breaks of 72, 64 and 68.

The five-time World Champion will now meet Graeme Dott on Friday evening. O’Sullivan is aiming to win his second ITV-televised event of the season having captured the Champion of Champions title in November.

“I’m pleased to get the win – I played better than I did in my first game because I’ve had a couple of days practice,” said the Essex cueman. “I’ve done more practice in the last two days than I did in the month before.

“I’m happy to have won two matches because this is a great event at a great venue. When the players come to an event like this they naturally want to produce their best snooker. To have the chance to play another match here – I feel like it’s Christmas all over again. I’m like a kid in a sweet shop.”

World Champion Mark Selby suffered a surprise 4-2 defeat against Martin Gould. Selby made breaks of 88 and 84 in frames one and five, but otherwise Londoner Gould dominated, scoring top runs of 113 and 67.

“It’s a great result for me and now I’ve got to produce that again in my next match,” said world number 24 Gould. “I never worry about who I’m playing, I just go out there raring to go and do my job. I’ve got a day off tomorrow so I think I’ll find somewhere to play some cribbage and dominoes.”

Gould now meets Peter Ebdon, who scored an impressive 4-1 win over Stephen Maguire.

Former World Champion Dott edged out China’s Liang Wenbo 4-3 in a tight contest. Larkhall’s Dott led 2-1 and 3-2 and eventually won the decider 70-15 to reach his first quarter-final since the UK Championship.