Ronnie O’Sullivan and Luca Brecel wrapped up one of the quickest sessions in World Snooker Championship history as they each needed just a single frame to secure their spots in the quarter-finals. The two former champions completed their victories in under 20 minutes, with Brecel finishing his win over Ding Junhui and O’Sullivan wrapping up his match against Pang Junxu, both with identical scores of 13-4.
Brecel, who had a strong start to the tournament with a dominant first session on Saturday, made quick work of Ding, sealing the win with a break of 71 in the final frame. O’Sullivan, who came into the tournament with no competitive match play since January, wasn’t particularly challenged in his clash with Pang. He finished with a break of 95 to secure his place in the last eight. Despite the impressive scorelines, O’Sullivan remained critical of his own form, rating it a “two out of 10.” He acknowledged that his form needed significant improvement if he hoped to challenge for an eighth Crucible crown.
Speaking about his performance, O’Sullivan stated that while he wasn’t concerned about winning quickly, he felt his opponents may have been caught off guard by his lack of sharpness. He also noted that his upcoming opponent, Si Jiahui, who had reached the semi-finals on his Crucible debut two years ago, would not make the same mistake and would pose a tougher challenge. Si had survived a late scare to overcome Ben Woollaston 13-10 in his second-round match, confirming his spot in the quarter-finals.
Reflecting on his chances of winning the title, O’Sullivan emphasized the need for a substantial improvement in his game. He admitted that he would need to start hitting more long pots and playing a more disciplined game, particularly in the areas where he felt his form was lacking. Despite his self-criticism, O’Sullivan’s path to the quarter-finals remained unscathed.
Meanwhile, Brecel’s victory over Ding was set up by a brilliant first session, where he built an almost insurmountable 7-1 lead, thanks to a series of high breaks, including two centuries. Brecel, who arrived at the Championships in less-than-ideal form, had managed to shake off any nerves from his early performances, thanks in part to his confidence from his 2023 title run. Despite his doubts about matching that form, he still felt capable of making another deep run, but he didn’t feel the same pressure to win the title this time around. Brecel also admitted that his pre-match routine, which included arriving at the venue just before his match, was something he had always followed and would continue as long as it worked for him.
Brecel’s opponent in the quarter-finals will be Judd Trump, who had to fight off a spirited comeback from Shaun Murphy. Trump had led 12-6 before Murphy produced a series of impressive breaks to reduce the deficit to 12-10. Murphy had a chance to make it even closer, but a crucial missed red allowed Trump to secure a 58-point break and seal a hard-fought 13-10 victory. Trump, although feeling the pressure as Murphy mounted his comeback, was able to steady himself and finish the match with confidence.
As the tournament continues, the tension mounts as O’Sullivan, Brecel, Trump, and the other top players look to secure a place in the semi-finals. The drama of the second-round matches highlighted both the skill and resilience required to thrive in the intense environment of the Crucible.
