RIYADH: Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has been eliminated from the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters as the tournament enters the semifinals stage on Friday.
Top seed Judd Trump is set to face fellow Englishman Shaun Murphy and Wales’ Mark Williams takes on China’s Si Jiahui at the Green Halls in Riyadh.
Thursday’s quarterfinal matches saw top seed and tournament favorite Trump continue his blistering form, with a 6-3 win against Australia’s Neil Robertson.
The former world champion is now through to the 63rd ranking event semifinal of his career, and many are tipping “The Ace in the Pack’ to go all the way this weekend.
Awaiting the 28-time ranking event winner in the last four is Murphy, with the ex-world champion and current world no. 7 seeing off Xiao Guodong 6-2.
This will now set up a replay of the Shanghai Masters final in July, where Trump emerged victorious against Murphy.
Meanwhile, the second semifinal will see Si continue his quest for a maiden ranking title after the 22-year-old defeated O’Sullivan.
All square at 2-2 heading into the interval, Si established a three-frame lead to move within one of victory at 5-2 before O’Sullivan responded with back-to-back frames to make it 5-4.
But a break of 82 in the 10th frame secured a famous victory for Si, who meets three-time world champion Williams next.
Williams whitewashed the in-form Jimmy Robertson 6-0 in his quarterfinal to move within touching distance of the 42nd ranking event final of his career.
