Ronnie O'Sullivan into World Seniors Championship final, one step away from another Crucible crown

O'Sullivan - widely regarded as the greatest snooker player of all time - is now one step away from claiming another crown on the sport's grandest stage to go with the seven titles he has previously won in the world professional championship.

Less than a fortnight on from bowing out to fellow 'Class of 92' graduate John Higgins in the main event in South Yorkshire, O'Sullivan returned to the Crucible venue on Friday to make his first ever appearance in a World Seniors Snooker Tour event, when he played in back-to-back sessions.

The 50-year Englishman - although the current age threshold for the seniors circuit is 40 - defeated Ken Doherty 4-1 in his opening assignment before getting past a former winner of this flagship accolade in Peter Lines in a high-quality affair during which O'Sullivan compiled breaks of 84, 109, 65 and 70.

Returning the next day - with the hallowed Crucible arena transformed into a one-table set-up for the weekend's semi-finals and final action - O'Sullivan faced two-time ranking event winner Robert Milkins who had eliminated record four-time winner Jimmy White in a black ball tiebreaker in round two, and the champion from two years, Igor Figueiredo, 4-1, in the quarter-finals.

It was the tournament favourite O'Sullivan who stole the opening frame on the final black with a counter clearance of 54, but Milkins levelled up in frame two with the help of a half-century break of his own.

After both players had made contributions earlier on, frame three went down to the colours and looked like going the way of Milkins after he potted an incredible green. However, the former top 16 star - who is currently without a pro tour card and is going to Q School later this month to try and earn his top-flight stripes back - called a push shot on himself on the blue, the ball that O'Sullivan later sank along with the pink to edge 2-1 up.

Milkins bounced back from that disappointment, taking frames either side of the first mid-session interval to go in front for the first time at 3-2, but record 41-time ranking event winner O'Sullivan restored parity with the aid of a 47 in frame six.

'The Milkman' went back ahead after a 64 in the seventh before an error strewn frame eight during which both cueists had opportunities to take it before O'Sullivan - who adopted a very aggressive playing style throughout the contest - sank a fantastic blue with his left hand, followed by a pot on the pink to steady his ship for 4-4.

Again, underdog Milkins (60 break, frame nine) eked out in front for 5-4, meaning O'Sullivan had to win three successive frames if he wanted to avoid a tiebreaker black ball at 6-6.

And that's exactly what the seven-time world professional champion did, fashioning rapid runs of 75 and 62 in going 6-5 ahead before wrapping up victory with a counter of 39 in frame 12.

O'Sullivan - who has not won a title on the professional snooker tour in over two years - will face either reigning British Seniors Open Champion and number two seed Joe Perry or current European Seniors Champion Craig Steadman in Sunday's two-session best of 19 frames final. Perry and Steadman play their semi-final on Saturday evening in Sheffield.

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 World Seniors Snooker Championship, visit our tournament information centre here.