• World Championship

Classy O'Sullivan sinks Murphy in Sheffield

ESPN staff
April 30, 2014
Ronnie O'Sullivan is chasing a sixth world crown © Getty Images
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Ronnie O'Sullivan sealed his 13th consecutive win on the Crucible tables after he beat Shaun Murphy 13-3 to advance to the semi-finals of the World Championship, where he will face Barry Hawkins.

O'Sullivan took a 6-2 lead into the morning session on Wednesday and a solid 63 quickly extended his advantage to five frames.

'The Rocket' made it 8-2 after he narrowly edged the 10th frame but Murphy hit back to reduce O'Sullivan's lead back to five.

A classy 118 break from O'Sullivan was followed by a frame-winning 59 after Murphy rattled a close pink; it proved costly for the 2005 champion as he missed the opportunity to make it 9-4 instead of 10-3 in O'Sullivan's favour.

The mistakes continued for 'The Magician' as he again failed to take advantage in frame 14. After Murphy missed a green off the last red, O'Sullivan cleared up to move within two frames of the win.

The defending champion soon moved within one, before he sealed victory with a break of 68 in the 16th frame. O'Sullivan now faces the man he beat in last year's final, as he looks to secure a sixth world crown.

Mark Selby became the first player to reach the last four after he completed a 13-5 victory against Alan McManus.

Having led 12-4 overnight, Selby required just one frame for the win but a 69 from McManus got the Scot off to a good start. However, Selby edged a tight 18th frame to claim his place in the semi-final for the first time since 2010. He will face either Judd Trump or Neil Robertson for a place in the final.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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