XI'AN, CHINA - AUGUST 19: Ronnie O'Sullivan of England reacts in the first round match (held over) against Wang Yuchen of Hong Kong on day 1 of 2024 Xi'an Grand Prix Qualifiers at Qujiang E-sports Centre on August 19, 2024 in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province of China. (Photo by Tai Chengzhe/VCG via Getty Images)
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At the Xi’an Grand Prix, Ronnie O’Sullivan easily defeated Hossein Vafaei in the round of 16, winning 5-0 and easily eclipsing his former opponent. With an overall frame score of 20-3, the Rocket has advanced to the quarterfinals in Xi’an and has faced very little opposition thus far.
They have defeated Wang Yuchen, Bulcsu Revesz, Yuan Sijun, and now Vafaei. In his most recent match, he defeated the Prince of Persia with two centuries (103 and 104), but the Iranian player didn’t really pose much of a threat. The game started a little after 12:30 p.m. UK time and ended shortly after 2:00 p.m., with a break after four frames.
Even though their rivalry, which reached a climax at the 2023 World Championship, is long over, Vafaei will still be hurt by such a crushing and seemingly unremarkable loss. Matt Selt is waiting for the Rocket in the final eight after defeating 17-year-old Gong Chenzhi 5-4 in a true battle.
Gong appeared destined for the quarterfinals after defeating Si Jiahui and Tom Ford earlier in the match, but the Englishman rallied and won the penultimate frame on the black before taking the decisive match.
There is still Chinese interest in the quarter-finals as Xu Si continued his impressive run in Xi’an, downing three-time world champion Mark Williams 5-4 on Thursday.
Including his qualifying match, Xu has won all four contests in this event in a deciding frame, knocking off another former world champion in Stuart Bingham in the previous round as well.
The first session on Thursday also saw Barry Hawkins beat world number one Mark Allen 5-3 and Judd Trump see off Jak Jones 5-1.
It was a measure of revenge for Trump after Jones beat him in the World Championship earlier this year, although the world number two didn’t have to be at his best to achieve it, with high breaks of just 52 and 51.
Quarter-finalists in Xi’an have already guaranteed themselves £23,350, but top prize is a hefty £177,000 so there is plenty more to play for in terms of cash and ranking points.
