Ronnie beat Shaun Murphy by 5-3 in a match that was entertaining as one can expect from these two as they are both positive attacking players. Ronnie already had a quite superior head-to head over Shaun and he’s only “extended” it!

Here are the scores for that match:

Every frame featured a break over 60.

Here is the report shared by WST:

World Open: Day Four

Ronnie O’Sullivan extended his winning record over Shaun Murphy, prevailing 5-3 to make the quarter-finals of the World Open in Yushan.

Having elected to adopt a limited calendar for the season, this will be the Rocket’s first quarter-final appearance since making the final of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters last August. 

The Rocket stated earlier this week that he has spent his time away from the match arena rebuilding his game and technique. He previously revealed that the one goal left in his career is to capture a record-breaking eighth World Championship crown. 

Victory today for O’Sullivan avenges a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Murphy earlier this season, at the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship. It also means O’Sullivan has now beaten Murphy in 15 of their 19 professional meetings. 

It was Murphy who took a 2-1 lead this afternoon, top scoring with 139 in the second. However, from there 41-time ranking event winner O’Sullivan powered for the line. Breaks of 70, 121, 89 and 76 saw him take four of the next five to secure a last eight tie with Ryan Day, who beat Latvia’s Artemijs Zizins 5-4.

After today’s win O’Sullivan stressed it is performances over results which are his main focus at the moment. 

“Shaun has been playing unbelievably. He has been so strong. I was happy when I got to 2-2. I thought at least I’ve been involved in a game against a top quality player. To win is even better,” said 50-year-old O’Sullivan. 

“If I can get my cue through the ball I will be alright. It doesn’t matter whether I win or lose. I am able to do that now. It has been torturous to be honest with you. It has been really hard work. 

“For me, just going out there and playing is a victory. Whether I win or lose is irrelevant. For me to be able to go out there and not feel scared is a victory. I am happy to go out there and feel that if I get a chance I might do something. Before I was thinking please don’t miss, don’t let me on the table. This is what was going through my head.“

Some images shared by WST on Weibo:

And videos shared by WST and TNT on Youtube

There isn’t really much to add to the above report. That’s one good aspect of these “elite” events: because the field is small every match can get the exposure, attention and reporting it deserves.

Ryan Day is next for Ronnie in the QF round. Ryan is another very attacking player so that should be a good one to watch as well. Ryan IMO has underachieved as a professional. I have seen him play in exhibitions and what he showed at the table on those occasions was surreal really. Ryan’s relative “weakness” is that he’s more vulnerable under high pressure than other top players.