Ronnie O'Sullivan overtakes Stephen Hendry as snooker's century king in reaching Masters semis

The five-times world champion made a knock of 101 in the opening frame of his 6-1 win over Marco Fu in their Masters quarter-final match at London's Alexandra Palace.

"I'm playing now like I did before I turned pro," said O'Sullivan. "I've had a new lease (of life). I'm getting older, but I feel like I've only been a professional for three or four years.

"Playing in London brings a level of expectation. I love the crowd here, but I don't want to disappoint them by losing."

O'Sullivan will play Neil Robertson in the semi-finals on Saturday after the Australian overcame Ali Carter 6-1. Carter, who enjoyed a 6-1 win of his own over Barry Hawkins in the first round, was recently given the all-clear from lung cancer.

"It is great for Ali after what he has been through," said O'Sullivan. "It put things into perspective."

O'Sullivan is bidding for a sixth Masters title in London.

Scotsman Hendry made 775 centuries before announcing his retirement from the sport in 2012. He has won two more World Championships than O'Sullivan with the last of his titles coming at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre in 1999.

"He is such a fantastic break-builder," said the six-times world champion and BBC pundit Steve Davis after watching the defending Masters champion O'Sullivan win the opening frame in one visit.

O'Sullivan looked poised to move two frames clear, but broke down on 51 by missing a routine brown as Hong Kong's Fu restored parity by winning the second frame on the black ball.

But it proved to be his last frame as O'Sullivan won the next five frames to progress with some ease aided by further runs of 67, 85, 66 and a closing 46.

Fu will regret failing to level at 2-2. Having led 58-17, he adopted a cautious approach as O'Sullivan recovered to pinch the frame on the black.

Thursday 15 January

13:00

Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) 6-1 Marco Fu (HK)

19:00

Ali Carter (Eng) 1-6 Neil Robertson (Aus)

13:00

Joe Perry (Eng) v Mark Allen (NI)

19:00

Stephen Maguire (Sco) v Shaun Murphy (Eng)