Welsh Open snooker: Ronnie O'Sullivan wins two matches 4-0 in less than two hours with three more century breaks

The Rocket is chasing a fifth ranking title of the season and second in a row having so impressively won the World Grand Prix on Sunday and so far in Cardiff he's yet to drop a frame after three matches.

O'Sullivan's first round opponent Robin Hull withdrew due to illness on Tuesday but he thrashed Graeme Dott 4-0 on Wednesday before repeating the trick against Grace during the afternoon session in just 44 minutes.

The 42-year-old, who says he could win tournaments when he's 50, opened the match with a break of 96 and followed it up with runs of 133, 63 and 107 as he reached round four.

The five-time world champion subsequently made short work of Dunn as well in 51 minutes during the evening session, compiling breaks of 84, 69, 117 and 67.

Those three centuries across both games - in which he scored a total of 867 points and conceded just 57 - upped his tally to 63 for the season while he now has 937 in his career.

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Incredibly, he's now won 18 frames in a row in competition when you take into account he won the last six in his 10-3 demolition of Ding Junhui in Sunday's World Grand Prix final.

He told Eurosport: "Obviously I'm very confident because I've won a lot of matches so that gives me an advantage.

"Winning is a habit and when you get into that habit you can even play badly and win. So when my form comes good as well then it's a double bonus."

No player has ever won a tournament without dropping a frame and when asked if he strives to achieve such an unprecedented record, he said: "Nah, it's impossible!"

On his energy levels, he added: "I feel as fresh as a daisy. I haven't done anything for two months. After the Scottish Open I only played two matches at the Masters.

"I didn't pick my cue up for six weeks so I need some more games. I'm far from tired."

O'Sullivan will next face John Higgins, who thrashed Nigel Bond 4-0 with a stunning performance of his own in which he hit two century breaks of 115 and 144.

That followed up his afternoon whitewash win over Sam Craigie so he too is on fine form.

Matthew Stevens earlier claimed a 4-1 win over defending champion Stuart Bingham, who lifted the Ray Reardon Trophy last year after a thrilling victory against Judd Trump, but was later knocked out by Yan Bingtao.

The Chinese star will play Barry Hawkins, who beat Martin Gould.

Friday's other quarter finals are Ian Burns v Noppon Saengkham and Gary Wilson v Yu De Lu.

THURSDAY MARCH 1
Morning session (1000 GMT)
Third Round (Best of 7 frames)

• Craig Steadman 2-4 Noppon Saengkham
• Fang Xiongman 2-4 Barry Hawkins
• Gerard Greene 3-4 John J Astley
• James Wattana 3-4 Kyren Wilson
• Liam Highfield 4-1 Chris Wakelin
• Mike Dunn 4-2 Xu Si
• Stuart Bingham 1-4 Matthew Stevens
• Yan Bingtao 4-1 Peter Ebdon

Afternoon session (1300 GMT)
Third Round (Best of 7 frames)

• Ian Burns 4-2 Akani Songsermsawad
• Jack Lisowski 3-4 Nigel Bond
• Mark Allen 3-4 Gary Wilson
• Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-0 David Grace
• Sam Craigie 0-4 John Higgins
• Yu Delu 4-0 Ben Woollaston
• Martin Gould 4-2 Mark Williams
• Robbie Williams 3-4 Liang Wenbo

Evening session (1900 GMT)
Fourth Round (Best of 7 frames)
TV Coverage: Eurosport 1/BBC Wales

• Matthew Stevens 2-4 Yan Bingtao
• Liam Highfield 3-4 Ian Burns
• Kyren Wilson 0-4 Noppon Saengkham
• Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-0 Mike Dunn
• John J Astley 2-4 Gary Wilson
• Barry Hawkins 4-2 Martin Gould
• Nigel Bond 0-4 John Higgins
• Yu De Lu 4-1 Liang Wenbo

FRIDAY MARCH 2
Afternoon session (1200 GMT)
Quarter-Finals (Best of 9 frames)
TV Coverage: Eurosport 1/BBC Wales

• Ian Burns v Noppon Saengkham (QF 2)
• Yan Bingtao v Barry Hawkins (QF 1)

Evening session (1900 GMT)
Quarter-Finals (Best of 9 frames)
TV Coverage: Eurosport 1/BBC Wales

• Ronnie O'Sullivan v John Higgins (QF 3)
• Gary Wilson v Yu De Lu (QF 4)

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