Snooker results: Quarter-final latest from the Crucible including Ronnie O'Sullivan

By Sporting Life

10:50 · WED April 27, 2022

Ronnie O'Sullivan is on the verge of a 13th World Championship semi-final having surged into an 11-5 lead over Stephen Maguire at the Crucible.

O'Sullivan was some way from his best despite leading 6-2 after the opening session and though he maintained his dominance in the evening, he was still below the level of form he displayed when trouncing David Gilbert and Mark Allen in the previous rounds.

The six-time champion, who won the last of his world titles in 2020, appeared frustrated by the condition of his tip throughout and though he still managed breaks of 64, 55, 69, 94 and 73, it was by no means vintage O'Sullivan.

Having claimed the final frame of the afternoon, Maguire kicked off the evening with runs of 62 and 73 to force his way back into the contest, but that was as good as it got for the Scot who seemingly hit a brick wall thereafter and was left cursing his misfortune on a number occasions.

As the match began to slip from his grasp, Maguire could have been forgiven for waving the white flag, but he finished with a spirited break of 66 to ensure O'Sullivan still needs two frames for victory when the match concludes on Wednesday morning.

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Williams and Yan locked together

On the other side of the draw, Yan Bingtao hit back at Mark Williams, dominating the second session of their quarter-final to draw level at 8-8.

Williams claimed the final four frames of the opening session to establish a 6-2 advantage, but it was roles reversed in the evening as the Welshman's previously excellent form deserted him and allowed Yan to turn the match on its head.

When Yan knocked in his second century of the match in frame 13, his seventh ton of the tournament, he was firmly on the charge, and Williams needed to draw on all of his previous experience to stop the rot in the final frame of the night and ensure he didn't fall behind for the first time in the match.

Trump and Higgins inch ahead

During Tuesday’s afternoon matches, Judd Trump and John Higgins both came out on top in the opening sessions of their respective quarter-finals.

Trump, world champion three years ago, took a 5-3 lead over Stuart Bingham, whose own memorable Crucible triumph came in 2015 at the age of 38.

Both players scored century breaks, Bingham’s 106 the highest in the seventh frame, before Trump edged a tense final frame of the session 73-35.

On the other table, four-time champion Higgins also built a 5-3 advantage over Jack Lisowski, who was back in action following his dramatic 13-12 win over Neil Robertson late on Monday evening.