Snooker news - Ronnie O’Sullivan set for world no 1 after hitting three tons to lead Stuart Bingham
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ByEurosport
Updated 20/03/2019 at 17:58 GMT
Ronnie O'Sullivan raced into a 6-2 lead over Stuart Bingham at the eight-man Tour Championship as Neil Robertson downed Mark Selby in a 9-8 late-night thriller in Llandudno – a win that boosts O'Sullivan's hopes of the world number one spot.
Ronnie O'Sullivan of England chalks the cue during the quarter-final match against Stuart Bingham of England on day one of 2019 Coral Tour Championship at Venue Cymru on March 19, 2019 in Llandudno.
Image credit: Eurosport
Selby's defeat to Robertson after blowing a 6-2 lead gives O'Sullivan the chance to top the rankings for the first time since 2010.
If the five-times world champion claims the title and the £150,000 top prize on Sunday, he will end Selby's four-year stay at the top. It would be a remarkable feat with O'Sullivan playing in less than half of the calendar's ranking events.
O'Sullivan has won seven ranking titles since October 2017 - including two UK Championships - to stand on the verge of top spot, and it seems only a matter of time before the 43-year-old Essex player returns to the top of the rankings ahead of the World Championship in Sheffield next month.
Despite appearing to improve with age, O'Sullivan would not be the oldest number one in the modern era with Welshman Ray Reardon achieving the feat at the age of 51 in 1983.
O’Sullivan had chalked up his 1,000th century as he claimed the Players Championship at Preston’s Guild Hall with a 10-4 victory over Robertson.
The world number two continued his impressive recent form in the very opening frame during Tuesday night’s session of the eight-man event at the Venue Cymru.
After initially calling a foul on himself which was not picked up by the referee, O’Sullivan went on to make a clearance of 119.
Although Bingham, winner at last week’s Gibraltar Open, produced a brief rally to level at 2-2, O’Sullivan remained in control as another 113 break saw him move 4-2 ahead.
O’Sullivan continued to shift through the gears with a 121 clearance, Bingham again left sat in his chair.
The 43-year-old will take a commanding 6-2 lead into Wednesday’s session of the best-of-17-frame match as he aims to progress to the semi-finals.
On the other table, Robertson beat Selby 9-8 in a last-frame decider following a remarkable comeback from the Australian.
World number one Selby had looked set for a comfortable evening after dominating Tuesday’s afternoon session, with three century breaks moving him into a 6-2 lead.
However, Robertson, the 2010 world champion, reeled off four straight frames to level the match 6-6 at the mid-session interval before edging ahead.
Selby finally stemmed the tide when he pulled off three snookers to take the 14th frame and then went 8-7 in front, but another fine century clearance from Robertson with 135, the highest break of the day, set up a tense decider.
The 17th frame lasted more than an hour, coming down to the black which Selby twice almost doubled into the middle pocket before Robertson did roll it in to complete the turnaround.
TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP LATEST RESULTS
Quarter-finals (best of 17 frames)
- Mark Allen 6-2 Kyren Wilson
- Neil Robertson 9-8 Mark Selby
- Judd Trump 9-8 Mark Williams
- Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-2 Stuart Bingham
Semi-finals (best of 17 frames)
- Trump v O'Sullivan/Bingham
- Allen/Wilson v Neil Robertson
Final (best of 25 frames)
ORDER OF PLAY
Quarter-finals (best of 17 frames)
Tuesday March 19
1pm
- Mark Selby 6-2 Neil Robertson
- Mark Williams 4-4 Judd Trump
7pm
- Mark Selby 8-9 Neil Robertson
- Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-2 Stuart Bingham
Wednesday March 20
1pm
- Mark Allen v Kyren Wilson
- Judd Trump 4-4 Mark Williams
7pm
- Mark Allen v Kyren Wilson
- Ronnie O'Sullvan 6-2 Stuart Bingham
Semi-finals (best of 17 frames)
Thursday March 21
1pm
- Trump/Williams v O'Sullivan/Bingham
7pm
- Trump/Williams v O'Sullivan/Bingham
Friday March 22
1pm
- Allen/Wilson v Neil Robertson
7pm
- Allen/Wilson v Neil Robertson
Final (best of 25 frames)
Saturday March 22
7pm
Sunday March 23
1pm & 7pm
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