Ronnie O'Sullivan reaches milestone quarter-final after impressive win at World Open

Seven-time world champion O'Sullivan - who dropped only one frame from his opening two assignments earlier this week in Yushan - settled down well, starting with a break of 96 to take the first frame of the blockbuster tie.

Reigning British Open champion Murphy responded in style, though, fashioning a run of 139 to level and then hitting a 62 en route to edging 2-1 in front.

'The Rocket' restored parity heading into the mid-session interval after a 70 break, and on resumption added to his record-breaking career centuries count with a 121.

World number eight Murphy (76 break) squared up at 3-3 to set up a grandstand finish, although O'Sullivan compiled efforts of 89 and 76 in the final two frames to make the last eight of a tournament on the World Snooker Tour for the first time since October.

The result was a bit of green baize revenge for O'Sullivan who was whitewashed 4-0 by Murphy at the Riyadh Season Championship in Saudi Arabia in November.

The 50-year-old Englishman has not lifted a trophy on the professional circuit in over two years, and the latest of his unprecedented 41 ranking event title haul came back in January 2024.

But there have been green shoots of recovery this week for O'Sullivan, who was in the Yushan region a week before the £825,000 tournament began, and recently admitted to working hard behind the scenes in practice.

An incredible example of his successful career longevity, O'Sullivan's 150th quarter-final ranking appearance comes over 33 years on from his first.

His maiden last eight outing came during his rookie professional season in 1992/93 at the European Open.

At a time when the professional snooker circuit was thrown open to allcomers, O'Sullivan began at the bottom of the ladder and had to come through a labyrinth of qualifying matches to reach the main venue stages of an event.

In that European Open (main stages held in Antwerp, Belgium), he won a total of 11 matches to get to the quarter-finals where he was ousted 5-4 by Andy Hicks having led 3-0.

Next up for O'Sullivan in China is four-time ranking event winner Ryan Day on Friday.

Welshman Day pipped Latvian teenager Artemijs Zizins, 5-4, posting runs of 102, 58, 82 and 69 in the process.

Currently positioned 36th, Day has slipped downed the rankings in recent times, so this run comes in very handy. This will be his first quarter-final dance on the tour in over two years.

In all competitions on the top flight, O'Sullivan has won his last four encounters against Day. Their most recent head-to-head came in the last 16 of the 2024 World Snooker Championship at the Crucible that O'Sullivan claimed 13-7.

Elsewhere during Thursday's afternoon session at the Yushan Sports Centre, Mark Allen - helped by breaks of 129, 59 and 51 - scored a 5-0 whitewash win over Zhou Yuelong.

Former world number one Allen meets Wu Yize in the quarter-finals after the Chinese youngster won five consecutive frames from 2-0 down to defeat Kyren Wilson, 5-2.

International Championship title holder Wu racked up runs of 80, 60, 109 and 67.

The result means that world number two Wilson can not qualify for the Tour Championship in Manchester later this month.

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 World Open, visit here.