Ronnie O'Sullivan forced to work hard to make UK Championship semis

O'Sullivan, who finished off his quarter-final drubbing of Matthew Selt with the 13th 147 of his career, got off to a shaky start as he lost the opening two frames to McGill, being outscored 168-38.

But he won the next 94-40 to get back into the match, then took control with breaks of 98 and 125 in the next two frames to go ahead.

World number 38 McGill levelled things by clinching frame six on the black, but O'Sullivan took two consecutive close-fought frames to build a 5-3 lead.

O'Sullivan - who was celebrating his 39th birthday on Friday - was once again pegged back, however, McGill knocking in a century to close to within a frame.

And a shock seemed on the cards when McGill got off to a start in frame 10, but he slipped up after just a couple of balls to let O'Sullivan in - and the hot favourite made no mistake with a break of 97 to finish up the match.

"It was a tough game," said O'Sullivan. "He got off to a good start and I managed to peg him back. He's missed a couple of game balls there and I feel like he was the better player today even though I scored a few big breaks. I felt like he was more ready to win that match than me - I think it was just experience that got me through.

"I felt like there were so many close frames that could've gone either way. My type of game is to dominate and win frames in one visit and I just felt that I wasn't allowed to do that. He kept me in my place a lot of the time so it was important for me to win that last frame in one visit.

"What a great player and character Anthony is. He's a fantastic ambassador for snooker. He's my type of character, he loves the game and he's a really lovely boy - I'm a fan!

"I'd definitely share anything that he needed - if I could help him I would. He's going to be around for a long time anyway whether he picks my brains or not. I think it's just a matter of time with Anthony before he starts winning tournaments."

O'Sullivan will play world number nine Stuart Bingham in the semi-finals, Bingham having beaten former world champion Graeme Dott 6-5 in a genuine epic.

Bingham won the opening frame, but Dott then roared into by winning the next four frames.

Yet the Englishman then turned on the style, winning five of the next six frames - and collecting two centuries as he did so - to earn a place in the last four.

"I just hung in there really," said Bingham. "At 4-1 down I thought it was just going to be one of those days. Anything that could go wrong was going wrong and it just wasn't happening. I managed to pinch one to 4-2 and I thought it's still not over.

"I sat in my chair at 5-5 and I thought how am I level? I felt good but just a bit spaced out today - I don't know why.

"Apart from one match, I've been on the table next to Ronnie in every game and he seems to be missing a few early doors. You've got to punish him. I've got to produce a bit better to have any chance against him."

Former UK champion Judd Trump was a 6-1 winner over Mark Davis. He will face Stephen Maguire in the last four after he completed a 6-4 win over Marco Fu.