2024 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters: Si Jiahui eliminates Ronnie O'Sullivan in Riyadh last eight

Si recorded one of the most important victories of his career as he eliminated seven-time World Champion O'Sullivan 6-4 on the main table.

The result puts the 22-year-old from China through to the third ranking event semi-final of his career, guarantees to match his biggest career payday, so far, and for the first time in his career, he is assured of a place in the world's top 16 rankings after the completion of this event.

Only the second time that Si and O'Sullivan had faced each other on the World Snooker Tour (O'Sullivan won 4-2 in the last 32 of 2023 English Open), the world number 22 Si claimed the opening frame before doubling his lead with a break of 87, punishing his opponent for an unexpected miss on the green when 44 points ahead.

It almost appeared certain that Si was going three up, but whilst on a break of 60, he missed a black of its spot and O'Sullivan - like he has done so often throughout his unparalleled career - stepped up and coolly compiled a counter clearance of 65 to steal it on the final black.

Going into the mid-session interval, the players were level at 2-2, courtesy of a 79 break from O'Sullivan after Si botched an escape from a snooker.

On resumption, though, momentum swung back towards Si as he chalked up frames five and six (50 break). Whilst Si's safety and positional play elements are still rough around the edges, his incredible single ball potting is something to behold and was particularly on show during this spell of the contest.

The youngster then extended his advantage and reached the hill at 5-2 up, teasing his first maximum 147 break in professional competition before faltering on 96.

Looking to repeat similar comeback heroics he performed against Zhang Anda in round six 24 hours earlier when he was 3-0 down, O'Sullivan began to rally. Runs of 65 and 56 - playing a plethora of shots left-handed without any requirement to - helped the 48-year-old Englishman reduce the gap to just one at 5-4.

However, when O'Sullivan missed an attempted long pot on a red at the start of frame 10, Si - who had not potted a ball in the previous two frames - grabbed his opportunity and constructed a match-winning effort of 82.

A semi-finalist at the 2023 World Championship and a runner-up at the German Masters earlier this year, Si is beginning to knock on the door for his maiden ranking event triumph, and it could arrive this week in the Saudi capital.

In order to appear in his second ranking event final, though, Si will have to defeat another all-time great of the sport in the last four; three-time World Champion Mark Williams who whitewashed world number 52 Jimmy Robertson, 6-0.

Despite not making a half-century break, 49-year-old Williams established a commanding 4-0 lead heading into the interval.

When the players returned to the baize, Williams fashioned runs of 61 and 133 to complete the clean sweep and set a date for his 66th ranking event semi-final appearance.

For the draw, results and other important details, please visit our 2024 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters Tournament Information Centre, here.