BREAKING LIVE: So close! Boss Ronnie O’Sullivan escapes tyrant bullet in Saudi Masters League” Shanghai huddles almost occurred” Ronnie pushes for real good news this time….
Ronnie O’Sullivan says there is “no fun” in the way he is playing after coming back from three frames down to beat Zhang Anda 6-5 and reach the quarter-finals of the inaugural Saudi Arabia Masters.
After leading 3-0, it appeared as though 32-year-old Zhang of China would defeat the seven-time world champion, but O’Sullivan responded. “It’s not fun for me the way I’ve been playing,” he remarked afterward. “I just want to play well for seven, eight or nine matches on the bounce.” Zhang won the eighth frame, and O’Sullivan tied the score at four with a point. The match was tied at three. Zhang then got to within one frame of winning, but O’Sullivan prevailed by drawing on his background.
I’m better than I have ever been’
Elsewhere, world number one Judd Trump eased past Jack Lisowski 6-1 to set up a quarter-final with Neil Robertson, who beat Gary Wilson 6-1.
“I’m a better player than I ever have been,” said Australia’s Robertson afterwards in reference to his form compared to that during a disappointing 2023-24 season.
“I probably haven’t said too much about my game over the last 18 months, but I’ve got that sense of pride again with my safety game.”
Meanwhile, Shaun Murphy defeated Elliot Slessor 6-3, Scotland’s Scott Donaldson lost a thriller with Xiao Guodong 6-5 and Jimmy Robertson edged past Kyren Wilson 6-4.
Robertson faces a last-eight showdown with Mark Williams after brushing aside Stuart Bingham 6-2.
The Saudi Arabia Masters, which has been given the unofficial title of being the sport’s ‘fourth major’ by organisers, is the biggest ever tournament staged outside the UK.
With a £2.3m prize fund and £500,000 winner’s cheque, only the World Championship in Sheffield is comparable.
