Ronnie O’Sullivan races past Ryan Day to reach World Championship quarter-finals as Wilson KOs O’Connor
O’Sullivan waves to the crowd after victory against Day (Photo credit: PA/Alamy Stock)
Ronnie O’Sullivan eased into his 22nd World Championship quarter-final with a 13-7 victory over Ryan Day, while Kyren Wilson safely saw off Joe O’Connor.
O’Sullivan led 10-6 going into Monday’s final session, and he quickly secured three of the next four frames to keep his quest for a record eighth world title on track.
The world number one will now face either Stuart Bingham or Jack Lisowski in the Last Eight.
“If I’d not been as tight or as clinical in some situations, he would probably have got on more of a roll at times,” O’Sullivan told BBC Sport.
“Early days for me, trying this new way of playing, different style of cueing, just to get away from the ‘yips’ as I call it, the easiest way of explaining it.
“It’s been hard work for two years and I decided I couldn’t continue playing like that, so I had to make some changes, so it’s the body and mind trying to catch up with each other.
“I’ve got some of it right, it’s just the other pieces need to fall in – I’m trying to work out the puzzle.
“I’ve had such a long time in the doldrums. For two years I’ve held it down, I’ve not really mentioned anything but it’s been really challenging.
“I’ve had to take medication for the anxiety and all that sort of stuff, even in small tournaments, even when I’m not playing. That’s how bad the game can make me feel at times.
“I didn’t want to do that anymore. I’ve just had a bit of excitement for the last couple of weeks, getting through the ball a little bit better. Then you come down crashing to earth.
“I was out there last night and it started to wander a bit. It was like, can we fix it? Can we get it back on track? There were some good bits there today.”
Having produced a break of 123 in the opening frame of the match, O’Sullivan was not able to add any further centuries in what was a workmanlike display by his standards, though the final session included an 85 clearance and a 67 break to round off a routine win.
Day was appearing the Last 16 in Sheffield for the first time since 2014, and admitted: “I battled really well in the safety department but I just struggled to settle all game and missed far too many easy balls.
“Unfortunately that’s something you can’t do, no matter who you play.
“It’s a shame I didn’t settle and make more of a fist of it.”
Meanwhile, 2020 world finalist Wilson sailed into his eighth World Championship quarter-final in ten appearances after a 13-6 victory over debutant O’Connor.
Wilson had established a commanding 10-6 advantage heading into the final session and wasted no time in securing the further three frames he required to get over the line.
Wilson will now face either John Higgins or Mark Allen in the quarter-finals, and said: “The main thing was getting the win under my belt but I felt I had so much more to give.
“I felt like I was kind of using my C game, which is a massive positive.
“I’m a much better player now [than in 2020] and my scoring stats would suggest that. I was tinkering too much. I got the glove out and that ruined half my season.
“At the turn of the year my results started to improve so I knew my form was there.”
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