Northern Ireland Open: Ronnie O'Sullivan sails into quarter-finals

Last updated on .From the section Snookercomments22

Ronnie O'Sullivan
Ronnie O'Sullivan has lost only two frames in his first four matches in Belfast this week

Ronnie O'Sullivan cruised into the Northern Ireland Open quarter-finals with a 4-1 win over Zhou Yuelong.

A break of 132 helped O'Sullivan advance to a last-eight match against David Gilbert, who whitewashed Lu Ning.

World number one Mark Selby progressed 4-2 against Martin O'Donnell and will play Thepchaiya Un-Nooh of Thailand.

Judd Trump, Peter Ebdon and Ryan Day are also through but Ali Carter lost a final-frame decider against Eden Sharav at the Waterfront Hall.

O'Sullivan has dropped just two frames in his four matches this week and he recovered well from losing the opening frame of his fourth-round contest to seal a comfortable victory.

Three-time world champion Selby remains on course for a semi-final against O'Sullivan after recording five breaks of 57 or more during his match against O'Donnell while world number five Trump won three frames in succession to defeat Belgium's Luca Brecel 4-2 and set up a quarter-final against Day, who beat Andrew Higginson without losing a frame.

Sharav recovered from 3-1 behind to upset Carter 4-3 and the Israeli will next play Ebdon after the 2002 world champion beat Li Hang 4-1.

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22 comments

  • Comment posted by Jamie, at 10:12 16 Nov 2018

    I know he's slow, but it's great to see Peter Ebdon is the quarters, clearly still practising his boots off, despite age not being on his side. Hope he makes the quarters.

    Selby v Ronnie looks a great semi on paper, but both got tough games today.

    Ronnie v Trump final for me, and if that pans out, could be a classic!

    Looking forward to this weekend to watch it!

  • Comment posted by privacy78, at 11:37 16 Nov 2018

    Ronnie seems to have been going on these runs in recent years - he wins a few tournaments in a row and then tapers off.

    I hope hits ones of these veins of form going into the world championship this year as the BBC tournaments always lose a sense of anticipation when he goes out.

  • Comment posted by Frankenstein says Relax, at 12:58 16 Nov 2018

    I love ronnie as I loved jimmy white/alex higgins but his comments about barry hearn are wrong in my opinion.
    he is being virtually allowed to hand pick his tournaments to play in & that is due to frequency/volume of tournaments.
    he basically likes a bit of a moan & personally I wish he was muzzled & just allowed to play his genius snooker.

  • Comment posted by Jamie, at 12:26 16 Nov 2018

    6. Biggs or Kray for me ;)

  • Comment posted by Alwaysbart, at 12:31 16 Nov 2018

    5. Posted by artdecade on
    10 minutes ago
    Who's the greatest Ronnie? ......O'Sullivan, Corbett, Barker, Baxter, Irani, Rosential or Wood.......Please feel free to make other suggestions..

    Pickering........

  • Comment posted by Nicky, at 11:57 16 Nov 2018

    You gotta love the man. Brings some attitude and sheer class to the green bays. Box Office right here Barry

  • Comment posted by MoreClaretThanBlue, at 12:39 16 Nov 2018

    McDonald? Barker for me - genius!

  • Comment posted by artdecade, at 12:20 16 Nov 2018

    Who's the greatest Ronnie? ......O'Sullivan, Corbett, Barker, Baxter, Irani, Rosential or Wood.......Please feel free to make other suggestions..

  • Comment posted by watchcat, at 17:48 17 Nov 2018

    Alex Higgins will be watching and wanting a Ronnie win in his home town.
    A couple of ravers

  • Comment posted by watchcat, at 17:44 17 Nov 2018

    O'Sullivan and Trump final then.
    I hope Ronnie is still hungry for it after his £100,000 win a week or so ago.

  • Comment posted by trylaughing, at 12:18 17 Nov 2018

    My top 5:

    1, O'sullivan.
    2, Barker.
    3, Kray.
    4, Moody.
    5, Radford.

  • Comment posted by Von Strunkel, at 09:55 17 Nov 2018

    When will the BBC acknowledge the popularity of snooker - and position it accordingly within their website not lost amongst badminton, hopscotch, and wood turning - shameful attitude which suddenly changes when they decide to screen a tournament.

  • Comment posted by artdecade, at 12:29 16 Nov 2018

    @6.
    Good shout

  • Comment posted by The Alternative View, at 12:10 16 Nov 2018

    I'm pretty sure I heard the commentators say Thepchaiya Un-Nooh had won his 4 frames in 37 minutes - that is pretty rapid!!

    @3 Nicky - Is Ronnie now playing NFL for the Green Bay Packers? - I assume you meant baize

  • Comment posted by watchcat, at 17:51 17 Nov 2018

    I don't understand snooker but love to listen as I snooze to the hypnotic sound of balls slapping.
    I think Ronnie is a gorgeous wrong un

  • Comment posted by Walter Plinge, at 09:34 17 Nov 2018

    Ancona

  • Comment posted by barrymanulow, at 05:17 17 Nov 2018

    Ronnie has been missing too many easy balls to beat Selby. Will need to tighten up to get passed the Grinder. Hope he does because Selby is the most boring player , completely void of any character.

  • Comment posted by MJP, at 23:05 16 Nov 2018

    Ronnie Mitchell (eastenders)

  • Comment posted by Pyo, at 22:45 16 Nov 2018

    According to commentators Ronnie and Selby haven't met in an official match for about two years. The world number one and the world number three. You'd think they'd run into each other all the time ...

    Selby will grind Ronnie down, is my feel for this one.

  • Comment posted by RJ, at 13:17 16 Nov 2018

    @8 That is comedy gold. Thanks for cheering up my day!

    PS - if you don't know who Alwaysbart means then I suggest you google it.

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