• The Masters

O'Sullivan romps to record points haul victory, Maguire through

Ronnie O'Sullivan scored a record 556 points without reply in his quarter-final win over Ricky Walden © PA Photos

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Ronnie O'Sullivan put in a devastating performance to whitewash Ricky Walden 6-0 in their Masters quarter-final on Friday, scoring a record of 556 points without reply.

Walden scored 39 points in the entire match, all of which came in the opening frame, as the 'Rocket' simply outclassed his opponent with a string of superb breaks.

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A 79 was good enough to secure the opening frame for the current world champion, before O'Sullivan began his record haul on the Alexandra Palace table.

Another visit of 88 made it two-nil in O'Sullivan's favour and he soon took advantage in the third frame with a break of 72.

O'Sullivan continued his mastery on the baize with a brilliant break of 134 to make it four frames without a response from Walden.

Although, in truth, Walden simply did not get a chance to issue any form of reaction as O'Sullivan swept to a brilliant victory.

Further visits of 77 and 56 were enough for O'Sullivan to wrap up victory in rapid time and book his place in the final four, where he will now face either Neil Robertson or Stephen Maguire.

"I've been putting a few hours in before the tournament and you just hope on a few occasions it comes out, and today it did," O'Sullivan told worldsnooker.com.

"I didn't feel unplayable but I certainly felt like I was in control of the cue ball and my long potting was good. My safety was ok and my scoring was good so it's tough to play when someone is doing all four things so well.

"Form is temporary from one match to another so there is no point getting too excited about things just yet. It was a win, it was a good win and I'm pleased to be through to the next round but then we start from level in the next match and it's going to be a tough one. Anyone who is in this tournament is a top player and it doesn't get easier - it just gets harder.

"I've had a great career, won some fantastic tournaments, I've won more than I expected I ever would and at this stage of my career it's nice to put performances in like that to show people what I'm capable of. It's nice for the fans, it's nice for the audiences on TV and I do feel a responsibility to try and offer entertainment for them.

"It was one of those games where whatever I touched turned to gold. At the world championship in 2012 I did almost feel unplayable. I don't think I am playing quite as well as I did there, but I'm not far off. At the 2012 World I could land the ball on a six-pence."

O'Sullivan will now face Stephen Maguire in the semi-final, after the Scot defeated world No. 1 Neil Robertson 6-2 to advance to the final four.

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