Ronnie O'Sullivan stays on track for Xi'an Grand Prix glory and a record-extending 42nd ranking title

O’Sullivan has dropped just one frame this week in China after comprehensive wins against Iulian Boiko (5-0) and Yao Pengcheng (5-1) in previous days.

In a repeat of the 2007 UK Championship final fixture, O’Sullivan began his latest assignment in supreme style with a break of 134 in the opening frame.

Efforts of 70, 63 and 85 helped ‘The Rocket’ establish a 4-0 lead at the mid-session interval, and the 49-year-old wasn’t occupied for too long on resumption as he completed his second clean sweep success of the tournament.

Next up for O’Sullivan is 2024 World Championship runner-up Jak Jones on Friday. Jones defeated David Lilley 5-3 to make it through to the last 16.

Maguire, who claimed his seventh ranking event title at the Championship League in the summer, was only allowed to score 25 points throughout the entire match.

His miserable recent head-to-head record against O’Sullivan continues - he has now lost the last seven matches, and won once in his last 13 attempts.

For O’Sullivan, he moves a step closer to the £177,000 top prize in the Far East, and a record-extending 42nd ranking event title of his career, although his first since his triumph at the World Grand Prix in January 2024.

The Englishman nearly ended that wait during his last outing on the World Snooker Tour in August when he reached the final of the Saudi Arabia Masters in Jeddah, although he was pipped to the £500,000 winner’s purse by Neil Robertson who won the title match, 10-9.

In the semi-finals of that event, O’Sullivan conjured up two maximum 147 breaks during his victory over Chris Wakelin - the first time in professional snooker history that a player has made more than one maximum in a single session.

With several big names already out in Xi’an - including world number one Judd Trump and reigning world champion Zhao Xintong - O’Sullivan is now the favourite for the trophy.

What else happened on day three of the 2025 Xi’an Grand Prix?

Another star name was shown the exit door in China as world number three Robertson was ousted by home player He Guoqiang, 5-4.

Robertson - who recently became the fourth player in professional snooker history to have compiled 1,000 century breaks in competition - added two more to his tally with efforts of 126 and 103, but it was 25-year-old He who took the final two frames, including a dramatic decider on the colours, to advance.

Youngsters Liam Pullen and Aaron Hill have a huge opportunity as they set up a last 16 meeting with each other after seriously impressive wins on Thursday.

20-year-old Englishman Pullen was flying as he chalked up breaks of 103, 83, 96, 101 and 77 in a 5-0 whitewash of Noppon Saengkham.

Ireland's number one Hill registered runs of 97, 131, 81 and 102 during his 5-1 victory over Mark Davis. 23-year-old Hill continues his heavy scoring having made a 147 in the previous round.

It wasn't all success for the youngsters, though, as 2015 World Champion Stuart Bingham halted teenager Stan Moody's progression with a 5-0 clean sweep.

Reigning Xi'an Grand Prix champion Kyren Wilson's title defence is still on course as he fashioned breaks of 113 and 106 in a 5-2 win over Yuan Sijun, meanwhile home hero Ding Junhui also scored two tons (100, 115) as he dismissed the in-form Louis Heathcote, 5-3.

A semi-finalist at the inaugural edition of this competition last year, Daniel Wells is going on another Xi'an run. The Welshman defeated world number 16 Si Jiahui, 5-3.

There was some incredibly high scoring during the evening session. Wu Yize crafted breaks of 71, 136, 78 and 87 but it wasn't enough as newly-minted British Open champion Shaun Murphy made 140, 94, 138 and 78 in a 5-4 win. Murphy faces title holder Wilson next.

Robert Milkins - who is in danger of tour relegation at the end of this season - followed up his win against world champion Zhao with an extraordinary performance of power scoring in a 5-4 victory over Jimmy Robertson.

'The Milkman' delivered breaks of 127, 113, 79, 121 and 129; Robertson himself had a 130 in the opening frame.

Barry Hawkins hit 60, 71, 94, 101 and 60 in a 5-2 win over Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, while Mark Williams strung together the final four frames to see off Zhou Yuelong 5-2. Hawkins plays Williams in the last 16.

Oliver Lines battled back from 4-2 down to shade Elliot Slessor, 5-4. Gary Wilson posted two centuries (102, 112) as he denied rookie Mateusz Baranowski, 5-4.

From 4-1 down, Matthew Stevens forced a decider in his match, but Lyu Haotian eventually went through a 5-4 victor.

Visit our 2025 Xi’an Grand Prix tournament information centre here for details on the draw, results, prize money, schedule and how to watch.