Ronnie O’Sullivan is playing in a record 21st Crucible quarter-final
| Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Dates: 15 April-1 May |
| Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV and Red Button with uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport app |
Seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan maintained a healthy 10-6 lead over Luca Brecel in their World Championship quarter-final.
Having trailed 6-2 when play resumed, Brecel opened with a superb 128 break and also made two half-centuries as he fought back to 6-4 and 8-6.
However, O’Sullivan’s superior match-play saw him repeatedly respond.
And two half-centuries of his own saw him remain on course for a 14th Crucible semi-final.
O’Sullivan and Brecel’s best-of-25 match will be played to a conclusion on Wednesday afternoon (14:30 BST) with the winner set to face either Anthony McGill or Si Jiahui in the semi-finals.
It proved a disappointing finale to Tuesday evening’s session for Belgium’s Brecel, who exhibited plenty of spirit and produced some stunning pots along the way as he attempted to make up ground after losing the final four frames of the morning session.
However, the 28-year-old was also guilty of some erratic safety and taking on several high-tariff shots that presented O’Sullivan with opportunities to finish the night with his four-frame advantage intact.
Meanwhile, Mark Allen and Jak Jones remain inseparable after finishing their second session level at 8-8.
Resuming at 4-4, Welsh qualifier Jones, 29, took the first of several scrappy frames in the evening before Northern Ireland’s Allen reeled off three on the trot to open up a 7-5 lead at the interval.
Jones repeated that feat, with a fluked red to the right middle laying the platform for his second half-century of the night to move 8-7 ahead.
Allen 37, who has already won three ranking events this term, restored parity with a break of 61 to leave the match finely balanced when it gets back under way on Wednesday morning (10:00 BST).
Analysis – Ronnie was ‘outplayed’ but got away with it
Six-time world champion Steve Davis speaking on BBC Two
Luca stopped the rot but it looked like it could have been a lot better. It was a chance for him to get at Ronnie who was not on full form.
If it was me I’d be totally relieved that I’d been outplayed for most of that session and got away with it. It gives you strength knowing the other guy has played almost as well as he can among the balls and still can’t overcome you.
Luca should be thinking he had a chance there to even maybe win that session 6-2 to get on level terms. He missed a couple of pots.
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