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Ronnie O’Sullivan and Luca Brecel reach World Snooker Championship quarter-finals; rapid sessions conclude with minimal frames required at the Crucible; both join Judd Trump in the last eight following a resilient performance against Shaun Murphy
Last Updated: 28/04/25 8:48pm
Si Jiahui is set to face Ronnie O’Sullivan in the quarter-finals at the World Snooker Championship.
Ronnie O’Sullivan and Luca Brecel completed one of the fastest sessions in Crucible history, advancing to the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship in just over 30 minutes.
The two former champions returned on Monday evening, each needing only one frame to secure victories over Pang Junxu and Ding Junhui, respectively.
Brecel was the first to finish, producing a decisive break of 71 to defeat the 2016 finalist with a score of 13-4. O’Sullivan quickly followed suit, achieving a break of 95 to conclude his match against Pang by the same margin.
Despite his swift progress, O’Sullivan expressed dissatisfaction with his performance, rating it as “probably two out of 10.” He highlighted the need for more competitive play, stating, “I wasn’t focused on finishing quickly; I require as much table time as possible.”
He further remarked on his opponents’ reactions, suggesting they may have anticipated a higher level of play from him but acknowledged the challenge posed by Si, indicating, “I don’t think Si will make the same assumptions, and that makes him a threat.”
O’Sullivan’s win against Pang marks his record-extending 23rd quarter-final appearance at the Crucible.
Si Jiahui, a surprising semi-finalist in his debut two years ago, narrowly defeated Ben Woollaston with a score of 13-10 to secure his place in the last eight.
O’Sullivan had initially established a strong position in the previous session of their match on Sunday, winning six consecutive frames to all but seal his advancement.
Despite often appearing dissatisfied with his form, he delivered consecutive century breaks, demonstrating his capability to dominate and sending a clear message to contenders that he remains in contention for a record eighth title.
Luca Brecel efficiently concluded his match against Ding Junhui with minimal fuss.
Brecel’s performance was bolstered by an impressive first session on Saturday. Flying in from Belgium just hours before, he built a commanding 7-1 lead with two centuries and several breaks exceeding 50.
Having arrived at the Championships in relatively poor form, Brecel remains optimistic about potentially replicating his extraordinary title run from 2023. “I may not be playing at the same level as before, but I’m not as concerned about the title,” he noted. “Two years ago felt like a golden opportunity, and now I believe I can get back to that level, which alleviates some pressure.”
Trump withstands Murphy fightback to reach quarters
Judd Trump secured his quarter-final spot by overcoming a late surge from Shaun Murphy, winning 13-10.
Trump started the final session of their second-round clash with a 10-6 advantage and came within one frame of victory with breaks of 63 and 86.
Murphy rallied, capturing two frames with breaks of 88 and 72, narrowing the gap to 10-12 before continuing his momentum with breaks of 112 and 99.
After hitting a superb long red in frame 23, Murphy missed a critical red, allowing Trump to respond with a break of 58, ultimately sealing a hard-fought victory.
Trump, the world number one and 2019 champion, has advanced to the quarter-finals in Sheffield.
World Snooker Championship: Quarter-finals
John Higgins vs Mark Williams
Zhao Xintong vs Chris Wakelin
Luca Brecel vs Judd Trump
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Si Jiahui
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