Shanghai Masters - Ronnie O'Sullivan hits 950th career century in reaching last four

The five-times world champion played some of his very best snooker as he reproduced the level of form that saw him enjoy a 6-3 win over Australia's leading player Neil Robertson in the second round on Wednesday.

O'Sullivan lost a scrappy first frame he should have won on the black to Bingham before breaks of 50, 93 and 111 saw him establish a 4-1 lead.

Bingham made an imperious knock of 134 to close to 4-2 behind, but O'Sullivan then produced a marvellous effort of 140 to tie Bingham's highest break total so far at the 24-man invitational event.

It is O'Sullivan's 950th career century since he turned professional in 1992, and comes at his first tournament of the new campaign following his last-16 loss to Ali Carter at the World Championship in April.

The Chigwell player promptly finished with a classy 72 to maintain his swift progress at a tournament that he is bidding to defend carrying a £200,000 winner's cheque from a £725,000 prize fund.

O'Sullivan will face Masters finalist Kyren Wilson in the first semi-final on Friday after Wilson edged out Ryan Day 6-5.

In Thursday's evening session world number one Mark Selby fell to Ding Junhui 6-5.

Having shared the opening four frames, local favourite Ding opened up a two-frame advantage, with runs of 101 and 98. However, three-time world champion Selby cut the arrears with a break of 66, only to see Ding take a tense eighth frame to re-open the two-frame cushion.

The Jester from Leicester rallied to send the quarter-final to a decider after holding his nerve to take frames nine - on the black - and 10 but a run of 53 was enough to send world number six Ding through to the semi-final stage.

World champion Mark Williams was dispatched 6-4 by Barry Hawkins in an affair light on quality.

Hawkins, defeated 17-15 by Williams in the World Championship semi-final at the Crucible in April, was always in control against the Welsh Potting Machine, constructing breaks of 61 and 56 on his way to the semi-finals.