World Snooker Championship 2024: Ronnie O'Sullivan into Crucible quarter-finals

Ronnie O’Sullivan moved a step closer to a modern-day record eighth world title after defeating Ryan Day 13-7 in the second round of the 2024 World Snooker Championship on Monday afternoon.

The 48-year-old is set to feature in a record-extending 22nd career Crucible quarter-final where he will meet either Stuart Bingham or Jack Lisowski across Tuesday and Wednesday. It will be a 144th ranking event quarter-final appearance - another record stretched.

Their first meeting in nearly three-and-a-half years - and only the second time in over 13 years they had faced each other in a ranking event - breaks of 123, 84, 83, 51 and 92 helped O’Sullivan establish a first session 5-3 lead over qualifier Day.

Returning for the second session several hours later, the seven-time champion took firm control as he claimed five of the opening six frames along with runs of 82, 65, 89, 56 and 96 to go 10-4 up, although Day - appearing at this stage for the first time in a decade - kept his hopes alive with back-to-back frames to end the session and close to 10-6 behind overnight.

There was a nervy start to the concluding session on Monday afternoon as both players squandered chances, but it was O’Sullivan who pinched it with a yellow to black ball finish and to settle down first. An effort of 85 in frame 18 put ‘The Rocket’ on the brink, and despite Day prolonging the contest with the next, breaks of 67 and 53 put O’Sullivan through in frame 20 without the inconvenience of a mid-session interval.

Victory means O’Sullivan also stays on course to retain his world number one status and complete a Triple Crown Grand Slam for the first time in his illustrious career having won the UK Championship and Masters earlier this season.

A tally of 12 half centuries and a century would suggest O’Sullivan was near his best, although in reality, he wasn’t punished by his opponent at times, and will likely need to raise his level in order to lift the trophy on May 6.

Speaking to BBC Sport after the match, O’Sullivan said: “I don't know if it was comfortable. I thought Ryan made it tough for me.

“Early days for me, I’m just trying this new way of playing different style of cueing just to get away from the sort of the yips. It’s been hard work for two years and I decided I couldn’t continue to play like that so I’ve had to make some changes and it’s just sort of like the body and the mind just trying to play catch up with each other. I’ve got some of it right, it’s just the other pieces need to fall in. I’m trying to work out the puzzle at the moment.

“I’m not scared of the table, I'm not scared of the balls. I'm scared of some other things but not that, which is the most important thing. When you’re confident in your ability to do something, given a chance you feel alright. For me it’s about longevity; how long can I play for?”

Discussing further about his issues over the last few years, O’Sullivan explained: “I’ve had such a long time in the doldrums to be honest with you. Two years I‘ve held it down, not really mention anything but it’s been really challenging, I’ve even had to take medication for the anxiety and all that sort of stuff. Even in small tournaments, even when I’m not playing, that’s how bad the game can make me feel at times so I didn’t want to do that anymore, so I had a bit of excitement the last few weeks feeling like I can get through the ball a little bit better.

“I’m getting a bit more optimism. I’m getting a bit more belief that I can sustain it.”

On table one, 2020 runner-up Kyren Wilson ended the run of Crucible debutant Joe O’Connor 13-7 to book in a quarter-final date with either Mark Allen or John Higgins.

Wilson built a 6-2 first session lead and maintained a four-frame cushion after the second session at 10-6 up. Returning on Monday afternoon, world number 12 Wilson claimed the first three frames to advance with minimal fuss.

Throughout the tie, Wilson compiled breaks of 50, 105, 71, 78, 54, 56, 58 and 86.

The five-time ranking event winner has dropped the least amount of frames of any quarter-finalist at this year's championship with just seven.