World Snooker Championship 2025: Ronnie O'Sullivan pounces on Si Jiahui mistakes to take big lead after first session

Ronnie O'Sullivan made a record-extending 23rd World Championship quarter-final appearance at The Crucible on Tuesday, and put himself in pole position to seal a spot in the final four of the competition by taking a 6-2 lead over Si Jiahui. The pair traded several mistakes early on, and O'Sullivan ultimately proved the more clinical. The second and third sessions will play out on Wednesday.

'Looks like his old self' - O'Sullivan hits fine double en route to session-ending century

Video credit: TNT Sports

Ronnie O'Sullivan made a storming start to his 23rd World Championship quarter-final, taking a 6-2 overnight lead against Si Jiahui.

'The Rocket' - who ousted Ali Carter and Pang Junxu en route to the final eight in Sheffield - bemoaned his performance levels ahead of the quarter-final tie, saying he is "hanging on for dear life" in the tournament he has won seven times during his career.

And he played his part in some mistake-laden early exchanges, but ultimately benefitted from being the more clinical to take the opener.

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Si, who beat O'Sullivan 6-4 in their last meeting in Riyadh over seven months ago, responded astutely to fire home a century and level the tie, but his free-flowing break-building evaporated as the match wore on.

As Si continued to falter in putting away his chances, O'Sullivan went on to take three consecutive frames for a healthy 4-1 lead.

The three-frame cushion was secured in some style too, as an inch-perfect cannon off a yellow pot split the pack of reds further down the table - allowing the seven-time champion to sweep home a frame-winning break of 87.

'The magic is still there' - Fine cannon sets O'Sullivan en route to three-frame cushion

Video credit: TNT Sports

Si chalked one frame back, but could not use his momentum to halt 'The Rocket', despite chalking up a half-century in the penultimate frame of the session.

Instead, O'Sullivan again pounced on a missed effort from his counterpart, clearing up to the black to steal the frame, with the match seemingly running away from Si.

And the Chinese potter may well be relieved O'Sullivan's hot streak was halted by the conclusion of the afternoon session.

The 49-year-old flew into a 6-2 lead with an emphatic century, kick-started by a spectacular long red and featuring an obscene double to head out of the arena basking in a great ovation from the Sheffield crowd.

O'Sullivan and Si will renew pleasantries across two sessions, first in the morning and then in the evening on Wednesday - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

O'Sullivan opens up eighth frame with clinical long red

Video credit: TNT Sports

Brecel stops the rot to threaten comeback

Luca Brecel's chances of adding to his 2023 World Championship title looked severely in doubt when Judd Trump opened up a five-frame lead over 'The Belgian Bullet' in their quarter-final meeting, but the 30-year-old claimed back-to-back frames late-on to breathe life back into the tie.

In the competitive opening stages, the pair were tightly locked, trading not only a frame apiece, but also stylish plants in a battle which exhibited some fine potting throughout.

The world No. 1, however, soon went on to form an unstoppable run of momentum, sealing four consecutive frames for a 5-1 lead - clinching his 102nd century of the season in the process.

Century king Trump almost executes 'spectacular black' after sealing another ton

Video credit: TNT Sports

While he secured an overnight lead, it might not have been as emphatic as Trump would have desired. Instead, Brecel rallied to land himself a fighting chance when the pair reconvene on Wednesday, clinching successive frames to finish the session on a high, and a 128 break.

Trump leads Brecel 5-3 ahead of their two decisive sessions on Wednesday, and the world No. 1 sits just one century break off Neil Robertson's record of 103 in a season - set during the 2013-14 campaign.

Watch and stream top snooker action, including the World Championship, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+

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