Ronnie O'Sullivan moves up in world after hitting 'the zone' in epic win over Kyren Wilson at Saudi Arabia Masters snooker - 'You are in a trance'
Published 15/08/2025 at 11:00 GMT+1
Ronnie O'Sullivan staged his second rousing comeback of the week to edge out world No. 2 Kyren Wilson in an epic quarter-final joust at the Saudi Arabia Masters in Jeddah. In the match of the tournament so far, O'Sullivan discovered some vintage form to complete a frantic victory over Wilson, who had enjoyed a 6-3 win over the snooker GOAT on his way to lifting the Shanghai Masters last month.
‘Oh yes!’ – O’Sullivan all but seals win over Wilson with stunning long pot
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ronnie O'Sullivan produced a fearless pot on a long red in clinching a superb 6-5 comeback win over Kyren Wilson in a breathless quarter-final duel at the Saudi Arabia Masters in Jeddah.
Leading 47-9 in the final frame on Thursday evening after restoring parity from 5-3 behind with two brilliant back-to-back centuries of 110 and 118, O'Sullivan was faced with a demanding long red with only three reds left on deck.
The consequences of missing could have been drastic, with Wilson handed the chance to launch a late counter-attack in the decider with nothing safe if the red did not drop.
But the seven-time world champion asked the referee to clean the white ball, returned to his seat for a sip of water, perhaps to steel himself, before putting away the pressure, match-ball red like it was the opening frame.
"I'm trying to flick the switch from the start," said O'Sullivan on TNT Sports.
"You are going to go in and out if you play a match like that.
"When you are on it, you have to compound every moment that you are feeling like are strong, and your opponent is on the back foot.
"But then he is going to do the same to you. And you see whether you can withstand it. I've always played the same shot, whether I'm in front or behind.
"A lot of players go behind and become more attacking. Or at the start of the match, be a bit negative.
"I don't do that. I just play the same all the time. I didn't feel any less pressure at 5-3 than I did at 0-0.
"I just play the same way all the way through."
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O'Sullivan finds corner pocket with excellent long shot
Video credit: TNT Sports
It was perhaps poetic justice for O'Sullivan after he had earlier missed a tricky brown that could also have carried severe consequences for his future health in the £2.3 million tournament.
Having received healthy applause for negotiating a demanding red with the rest, O'Sullivan swept the white off two cushions and back up to baulk, holding a 47-4 advantage with a possible 59 remaining.
There was an easy roll-up behind the yellow on offer, but O'Sullivan opted for the positive shot choice by taking on a tough brown and failing to pot it before landing on a red at the other end of the table.
"It was a big shot to take on. He could easily have played a telling safety shot, maybe got a colour safe even," said Ken Doherty, the 1997 world champion, on TNT Sports commentary.
Despite Wilson holing red with the rest, it ultimately came to nothing as O'Sullivan returned to the table to seal the victory with a trademark long red, setting him up to stroke home the winning pink.
It was perhaps a form of poetic justice for the snooker GOAT in continuing to play the correct shot in the heat of the moment rather than refrain from the chance to grasp the nettle.
O'Sullivan had rolled in 88 and 116 to lead 2-1 with Wilson responding with 75, 67, 69 and 80 to win four of the next five frames after his opponent levelled at 3-3 with 51 in a rapid, heavyweight scoring joust.
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O’Sullivan reveals comment online spurred him to victory over Wilson
Video credit: TNT Sports
"You get in the zone, a meditative sort of state, almost like you have been hypnotised," said the Dubai-based Essex professional.
"A lot of my career, I've got into a hypnotic state just from being in the zone.
"You can only get there by feeling good, playing well and feeling at one with yourself.
"It happens a lot less now. When you can get into a nice zone, you can block out everything and things can transpire good for you.
"You have to get into the zone, and get lost in it. So lost in it almost that you don't know what is going on around you.
"You are in a trance, basically.
"Now I feel I really have to work at it, maybe it is age or motivation, I don't know."
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Wilson's huge mistake against O’Sullivan draws 'biggest cheer of the evening'
Video credit: TNT Sports
O'Sullivan, who reeled off four straight frames from 5-2 down against Chang Bingyu in the last 16 with two centuries, will move back up in the rankings following his win over Wilson with the £100,000 earned seeing him leapfrog John Higgins as world No. 4.
He will also move above Mark Williams as world No. 3 if he can overcome Chris Wakelin in the semi-finals on Friday night - 6pm UK time live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - by banking a further £100,000 in reaching the final.
Former Shoot Out winner Wakelin is also on the move in the chase for the £500,000 first prize and will end his week at a career high of world No. 13, whatever happens against O'Sullivan.
"I know I've got the game to win the semi-final, and that's the most important thing. I will give it my best shot," he said after his 6-5 quarter-final win over Barry Hawkins.
The head-to-head between O'Sullivan and Wakelin is one win apiece, with both also managing victories at the Championship League, but their best-of-11 frame match will be the longest distance they have contested.
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- Ding 'curse' strikes again in Saudi Arabia as three-year hex continues
- 'It is just unbelievable' - O'Sullivan enjoys sunny side of life after ending cue crisis in Saudi
Saudia Arabia Masters semi-finals
Friday's order of play (best of 11 frames)
- 12:00 - Elliot Slessor (Eng) v Neil Robertson (Aus)
- 18:00 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) v Chris Wakelin (Eng)
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Watch and stream top snooker action including the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+
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