World Snooker Championship: China’s Si Jiahui takes second round lead, as O’Sullivan crushes Vafaei with session to spare
- Chinese debutant moves 6-2 ahead of England’s Rober Milkins after first session at Crucible
- Ronnie O’Sullivan wins sevens frames in a row to complete 13-2 hammering of Hossein Vafaei
Ronnie O’Sullivan has eased into the quarter-finals of the world snooker championship with a 13-2 hammering of Hossein Vafaei in Sheffield.
The defending champion, 6-2 ahead overnight, won all seven frames at the Crucible on Saturday, booking his place in the last eight with a session to spare.
In another second round clash, Si Jiahui opened up a 6-2 lead over Englishman Robert Milkins after the first session. They were expected to resume their match at 7pm, UK, on Sunday.
The Chinese debutant came through three rounds of qualifying, culminating in a 10-7 win over Jordan Brown, to earn his Crucible debut. He then stunned the World Snooker Tour’s in-form player Shaun Murphy 10-9 in the opening round to set up a showdown with Milkins.
A fragmented 33-minute first frame went the way of Milkins, before 20-year-old Si showcased his talent to take control of the tie. Breaks of 82 and 103 helped him on the way to taking the next three and heading into the mid-session interval 3-1 ahead.
When play resumed, Si made it four on the bounce to move 4-1 in front. Milkins halved his deficit, but it was Si who claimed the last two frames of the session, with breaks of 69 and 66, to secure his 6-2 advantage.