European Masters 2022 - Ronnie O'Sullivan into quarter-finals after dispatching Ashley Hugill, plays Tom Ford next

ByEurosport

Updated 24/02/2022 at 22:01 GMT

Ronnie O'Sullivan is into the quarter-finals of the European Masters after beating Ashley Hugill in comfortable fashion. Hugill overcame some early nerves to grow into the match, but he could not deal with the quality of O'Sullivan's shots as he registered breaks of 141, 96, 62, 105 and 52,58 en route to victory in Milton Keynes. Also, Yan Bingtao has been knocked out by 21-year-old Fan Zhengyi.

Ronnie O'Sullivan is into the quarter-finals of the European Masters after seeing off Ashley Hugill 5-2.

O'Sullivan, who last won the competition in 2003, had little trouble dispatching the World No. 81 and he will face Tom Ford in the next round.

The Rocket hit the ground running with a 141 clearance in the opening frame before quickly racking up a break of 96 to move into a quick 2-0 lead.

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Hugill fought back in the third frame. O'Sullivan missed a red into the middle pocket which proved costly as Hugill registered a break of 77 on his third attempt at taking the frame.

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A fantastic counter clearance of 62 from O'Sullivan in the fourth proved enough to steal the frame and restored the Rocket's two-frame lead heading into the interval.

Hugill, who looked earlier in the match, came out from the break with a renewed sense of confidence and he finished with a break of 73 in the fifth to earn a break back.

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But O'Sullivan pounced on a mistake from Hugill to get back and produced a 105 clearances to move into a commanding lead.

Hugill was rattled and a handful of unforced errors handed O'Sullivan what proved to be the match frame. Hugill missed the black off its spot which ultimately cost him.

Elsewhere in the afternoon session, Fan Zhengyi follows up his shock win over Kyren Wilson on Wednesday night by coming from 3-0 down to beat Yan Bingtao 5-3. Fan made breaks of 55, 53, 55, 74 and 60.

Graeme Dott went through after beating Jordan Brown 5-2 with breaks of 69, 76 and 54 in the third, fourth and seventh frames.

Ryan Day beat Sunny Akani 5-2, recording five 50+ breaks against his Thai opponent.

EVENING SESSION: GILBERT THROUGH, FORD TO PLAY RONNIE

David Gilbert beats Pang Junxu, winning 5-3 with four half centuries. He will play Zhengyi next.

Anthony McGill progressed to the quarter-finals despite Kurt Maflin - who beat Judd Trump in the previous round - recording three centuries to prevail 5-3.

The Englishman made breaks of 70, 72, 85 and 91 to progress and will play Liang Wenbo in the next round.

Ford sets up a meeting with O'Sullivan on Friday evening after beating Fraser Patrick 5-3. Ford made top breaks of 65, 99 and 77.

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