The Masters snooker 2024 as it happened – Shaun Murphy beats Jack Lisowski to set up Ronnie O'Sullivan showdown
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Updated 11/01/2024 at 22:21 GMT
Welcome to our live text coverage of Thursday's action at The Masters at Alexandra Palace in London. In the evening session, former world champions Shaun Murphy and Jack Lisowski lock horns as they bid to face Ronnie O'Sullivan in the last four. The Rocket saw off Barry Hawkins earlier in the day in an unconvincing display. Watch and stream The Masters live on Eurosport and discovery+.
‘Hint of Hurricane Higgins!’ – O’Sullivan likened to late legend following exceptional shot
That's all from us!
Right, that's me done for tonight, but check back in tomorrow, when the quarter-final action concludes.
We've got Judd Trump against Ali Carter in the afternoon session, followed by Mark Selby v Mark Allen in the evening. We will see you then! You don't want to miss it!
O'Sullivan awaits after the drama
That final frame was such a nail biter! Murphy goes through now to play Ronnie O'Sullivan, who beat Barry Hawkins 6-3 earlier on today
Murphy 6-3 Lisowski (63-51)
Murphy nearly flukes the black, which he plays safe off the top cushion and into the far knuckle of the right middle. But his next shot...wow! What a pot to win it! Lisowski brings the black back up towards the top end of the table. There's huge distance between the cue and object ball, but Murphy sends it home. That's a stunner!!
Murphy 5-3 Lisowski (56-51)
He pots the pink, but doesn't put enough on the cue ball to run through for any kind of decent potting angle on the black. Pot rejected. It's all on one ball
Murphy 5-3 Lisowski (56-45*)
The green wriggles home. The remaining colours are all fine, up to the black, which is close to the top cushion. He's dead straight on the pink. It's such a tough shot to get onto the black and requires a lot of thought
Murphy 5-3 Lisowski (56-31*)
A foul from Murphy means he leaves a pot for Lisowski now. It's not easy, with even more pressure carried by the scoreboard, but he sinks it. Blue added, and he somehow manages to get the cue ball close enough to the red to be able to pot it. He's clawing his way back into it!
Murphy 5-3 Lisowski (56-19)
Murphy adds the blue. Next up is an attempt at a red to that left corner, again using the rest. Pot this and it's surely the match, but he misses - and winces.
Murphy 5-3 Lisowski (*51-19)
Scoring is not easy with where the balls are set. Murphy finds one red to pot, and adds the yellow. 31 points the difference with 51 remaining, so he's not far from the winning line. Can he find another red? You bet he can. A stunning plant, using the rest and with plenty of distance between the two balls, but he still finds the heart of the pocket.
Murphy 5-3 Lisowski (47-19)
It's a very odd looking table now. Only the blue and pink are on their spots. The five remaining reds are over towards the left corner, accompanied by the yellow. Somehow, Lisowski find a gap to pot one of them, and he follows up with the pink. Can he make this visit count? He won't get too many more chances if he doesn't - and he subsequently misses a straightforward enough red
Murphy 5-3 Lisowski (47-12)
He's not in his chair for long though. An error from Lisowski gives him an opening red. It feels like he's one shot away from making it frame and match. He has a long pot on the yellow, but using the rest, it's not easy. He misses by miles - and then sees the cue ball roll behind the green!
Murphy 5-3 Lisowski (46-12)
A poor positional shot hands Lisowski a lifeline though. Murphy ends up in no man's land off the pink, and he decides to play safe
Murphy 5-3 Lisowski (*39-12)
Well; the pink isn't tied up for long, as Murphy frees it, and with the reds well spread, this could well be the beginning of the end of Jack
Murphy 5-3 Lisowski (*18-12)
A long safety battle follows, until a terrific shot from Murphy forces an error from his opponent. Can Murphy wrap things up? It's not an easy looking table. The black is on the top cushion and only goes into one pocket, while the pink is in the middle of a cluster of three, so it's up to the blue for the time being
Murphy 5-3 Lisowski (12-12)
Lisowski only adds 12 himself though, running a long way out of position and left with a long red to the left corner. He misses, but knew he wouldn't be leaving anything, so no damage done from that point of view
Murphy 5-3 Lisowski (12-0)
So, can Murphy withstand the fight-back? He shows no sign of nerves at the start of the tenth frame, as he fires a red into the right corner after the Lisowski break. However, a few shots later, he misses a red and Lisowski is back at the table with a golden opportunity
Murphy 5-3 Lisowski (41-103)
Magnificent escape from Murphy, who, had he missed, would have required snookers to win the frame. The match will be extended though, as Lisowski eventually sinks that final red, while a delicate pot on the yellow puts the frame to bed.
Murphy 5-2 Lisowski (41-73)
He does, however, leave a red to the left corner, which Lisowski pots, adding the pink from it. He now needs the two remaining reds with a high-value colour. One is potted, accompanied by the blue. Now for the final one, tight on the top cushion. He tries to drop in behind it and comes up a little short. It's a nasty, nasty angle, so he refuses the pot, laying a snooker instead
Murphy 5-2 Lisowski (41-60)
This really is a devilish snooker. Five fouls from Murphy, barely getting close to a red with two of them. In the end, he changes which way he's trying to go around the angles, and hits, but those points could be huge
Murphy 5-2 Lisowski (41-40)
Lisowski adds a delightful red, but it won't be anything more than that, because the remaining three reds are all close to the cushions and he can't get near them given the angle he has on the colours. Given then, he plays safe off the green, majestically rolling the cue ball in tight behind the black, which is mid-way between the blue spot and baulk line and towards the right cushion
Murphy 5-2 Lisowski (41-39)
He tries, but can only brush into the one at the bottom of the cluster, failing to dislodge anything, so it's end of break
Murphy 5-2 Lisowski (*36-39)
Shaun is soon back at the table after a safety error from Lisowski, though. The Magician pots a red and blue, swinging the cue ball around the angles to get close to the remaining five that are below the pink spot. One of them is free, and he cuts it home. Now, can he disturb the others off the blue?
Murphy 5-2 Lisowski (29-39)
In short, no. In more detail, Murphy snookers himself when potting the pink, as when the ball is re-spotted, he can't hit any of the reds. Worse, still, he fouls on his first escape attempt, before hitting on the second
Murphy 5-2 Lisowski (*22-35)
The Magician cleans up that red over the pocket, then attempts to develop a few others off the black. He doesn't leave himself anything easy, but cuts a red into the left middle, then adds another black. Has Jack played his final shot of the tournament?
Murphy 5-2 Lisowski (6-35)
Like Murphy, Lisowski is free-scoring and rapid when he's at his best, and he's finding some rhythm here. That is until he tries to cut a red along the top cushion, and he misses, with the object ball nestling in the jaws. Can Shaun take advantage?
Murphy 5-2 Lisowski (6-15*)
Lisowski looks like he's been freed up by the scoreline. Murphy gets first chance in the frame, but doesn't run far enough with the cue ball and loses his potting angle. That means Jack can come back to the table, and after a tidy opener, as well as spreading the pack, he finds himself sitting in a pretty decent position
Murphy 5-2 Lisowski (0-66)
And now he's past that winning line. Another clinical red, followed by a pink, means he's one pot away from the snookers required stage. He takes that, and adds another pink for good measure. Murphy stays in his chair when a third pink is missed. Deficit reduced.
Murphy 5-1 Lisowski (0-51)
No damage done, though. A poor shot from Murphy allows Jack to cut a red into the right corner, and he follows up by putting the yellow near the side cushion. He's pretty close to the winning line in this frame
Murphy 5-1 Lisowski (0-50)
Neither the pink or black or pottable at the moment, so the cue ball is having to a fair bit of work. Eventually, Jack runs out position off the blue, leaving the white in no man's land. He has to attempt a long, straight red up to the green pocket and misses
Murphy 5-1 Lisowski (0-29*)
Hello! What a shot that is! Lisowski, who's previous break has broken down, spots a plant. He's got the cue ball at the baulk end of the table, but goes for it, full-blooded, and hammers it home. Blue added. Position with the white, which is back under control. This is a good chance
Murphy 5-1 Lisowski (0-13*)
So; is there any way back for Jack? He's got a chance at the start of the frame, but we know his scoring has not been heavy tonight. The crowd are clapping every pot he does manage, including a pink where he stuns the white through off the far cushion and back for a red to the right corner
Murphy 5-1 Lisowski (123-7)
A black off the final red takes him to his second 100+ score of the match! He eventually reaches 123 before having no angle to go on the black. He's one frame from victory!
Murphy 4-1 Lisowski (*87-0)
The next pot is frame ball, and he cuts the red right into the heart of the pocket. The pink makes certain Jack won't be coming back to the table in this frame. Now, can we see another century? He's looking very well placed
Murphy 4-1 Lisowski (*67-0)
Well, it's not going to be far off. A sublime screw back off the red opens up the cluster of six just below the pink spot. The black is free and he's scoring incredibly heavily
Murphy 4-1 Lisowski (*30-0)
Danger for Jack at the start of frame six, as he attempts a long red to the right corner, misses, and sees the object ball clatter into the pack, spreading things and leaving a starter for Shaun. Again, he's playing quickly. Could we see an even faster frame than the six minute one earlier on?
Murphy 4-1 Lisowski (76-26)
And it will surely 4-1 lead. Murphy cleans up the remaining reds, and his shot off the last of them, a pink into the left middle with the cue ball tight on the top cushion, was superb. He misses the brown, but it's job done.
Murphy 3-1 Lisowski (*51-26)
A gentle clipped red into the green pocket from Murphy, before adding the green. A few shots later and a sublime cannon on three reds on the top cushion opens them up - and gives him a frame winning chance
Murphy 3-1 Lisowski (40-26)
Well, well, well. Murphy doesn't make him pay. 31 the break before he misses a red to the left middle, which clips the knuckle. He'll come straight back to the table though, as Lisowski misses a different red to the same pocket by a long, long way
Murphy 3-1 Lisowski (*25-26)
Indeed, Lisowski misses on two occasions, the second of which leaves an easy red to the left middle as the white finishes well short. Can the Magician make him pay? The way he's playing tonight, you wouldn't bet against it.
Murphy 3-1 Lisowski (1-26)
Jackpot adds another five points with a visit shortly afterwards, but he's in a world of trouble now, as Murphy pots a red and the rolls up behind the yellow. It's a tough snooker to escape, not necessarily for hitting the reds - more so for leaving one on
Murphy 3-1 Lisowski (0-21)
Jack will get another chance, though, and this time he's able to build something a little more substantial, until again running out of position off the blue. A contribution of 15 on this occasion, before having play safe, leaving the cue ball near the baulk cushion
Murphy 3-1 Lisowski (0-6)
Here we go again! The boys are back after the mid-session interval, and it's Lisowski who is first to pot a ball after Murphy misses one to the left corner. He'd previously failed to register a single point in three of the four frames, so this is a good start. However, he hammers the white into the pack off the blue and is left luckless. A roll up follows
Some light reading for the interval
There have been plenty of flies to distract the players tonight - but nothing noisy from the audience yet! Mark Selby was left furious with one such clattering sound last night, as he was put off a pot against Robert Milkins
Murphy 3-1 Lisowski
That frame took just six minutes. It's only taken 51 minutes to reach the mid-session interval. Rapid stuff!
Murphy 3-1 Lisowski (76-0)
Winning line for the frame quickly passed. Now, it's all eyes on the century. He won't reach it though. A tough cut-back on the black into the left corner just catches the jaw. Job done, though. He's 3-1 up heading into the mid-session interval
Murphy 2-1 Lisowski (*55-0)
It's another one of those quick Shaun Murphy breaks. He's taking no time at all between shots, but then he doesn't need to with the way he's cueing. Nudges and kisses have opened up the pack. Could we get another century? It's certainly plausible, especially after a delight long red up into the yellow pocket
Murphy 2-1 Lisowski (*7-0)
Horrible luck for Lisowski, who attempts a red to the right corner. It's a tough one, as the white is tight on the baulk cushion, and in missing the pot, the cue ball nudges into a red near the black spot, opening up an easy starter for his opponent.
Murphy 2-1 Lisowski (131-0)
And a century it shall be, brought up with a blue off the final red. In the end, it's a total clearance of 131, and registered in double-quick time. He's back in front
Murphy 1-1 Lisowski (*68-0)
Another 50+ contribution from Murphy then, who, when he's playing like this, breezes round the table. He quickly passes the snookers required stage, and now has a century on his mind
Murphy 1-1 Lisowski (*25-0)
Murphy's second red is the one over the right corner that his opponent missed, and off it, he swings the cue ball off two cushions and into the pack. That has opened things right up. He's sitting very prettily now
Murphy 1-1 Lisowski (*6-0)
"That's as poorly hit a safety shot as I've ever seen Shaun play," says Dominic Dale on commentary as the Magician catches the pack too thick and leaves the cue ball short of the blue spot. He doesn't leave anything easy though. Jack attempts a cut to the right corner, which catches the jaw and hangs over the pocket. And easy opener for Murphy, which he takes. He's off and running again
Murphy 1-1 Lisowski (0-119)
There's enough on the table for a century. He'll have to release the yellow, which is tied up with the brown, and fails to do so. In the end, 74 is more than enough to level
Murphy 1-0 Lisowski (0-77*)
A thin cut back on the black recovers position with the cue ball, and leaves him just a couple of pots from the frame. He does that, and a further red means Murphy won't be coming back to the table. Now, can he finish with a big break?
Murphy 1-0 Lisowski (0-55*)
Murphy attempts a long red to the right corner, and missing that presents Jack with a golden opportunity to put the frame to bed once and for all. The cue ball has stayed around the pack, and he pots one of them comfortably. Again, he leaves himself straight on the blue on a couple of occasions, the second time meaning he has an awkward pot with the red, but he sends it into the heart of the pocket
Murphy 1-0 Lisowski (0-35)
However, Jack leaves himself straight on the blue, meaning he has to stretch for a red to the green pocket. He misses that, so just the 19 added
Murphy 1-0 Lisowski (0-29*)
It's a case of who blinks first, and it's Murphy who makes the first error, sticking the cue ball mid-table. Lisowski has a nice enough red to the right corner to open up and follows up with the pink. The reds are evenly spread, so there's a chance of something significant here
Murphy 1-0 Lisowski (0-16)
We're now in the midst of a safety battle that has been longer than the entirety of the first frame! Both players are determined not to give an inch, and each have delivered some excellent cue balls
Murphy 1-0 Lisowski (0-16)
Jack responds! He pots what the commentary team describe as "an absolute worldie" to open up frame two, sending a long red into the left corner. The black follows, as it does off the next red, however, the tries to screw into the pack and gets a bit stuck. End of break
Murphy 1-0 Lisowski (75-0)
A bit of a heart in mouth moment as a straightforward black gives saws hello to both jaws of the left corner before wriggling home. Other than that, though, Murphy has been faultless in this break, reaching 75 until missing a long red. The frame lasts just eight minutes. He's hit the front.
Murphy 0-0 Lisowski (*47-0)
Murphy then opens things right up as he goes into the pack - an undoing all the hard work to re-spot the pink! This has been a very confident start, and he'll believe he should win this in one visit, now
Murphy 0-0 Lisowski (*19-0)
A quick start from the Magician, after his opponent's break brings a red out to the right hand side of the table. Shaun strokes it home into the corner pocket with a terrifically cued pot, and he brings the cue ball back round for the blue.
He reaches 19 before potting a pink, which requires some very careful attention from the referee to be placed into the middle of the pack, as its spot it taken
Here we go!
Rob 'The Talker' Walker introduces the two players, as they make their way down to the table. We're in for a terrific evening!
How they got here
Jack Lisowski beat World Champion Luca Brecel 6-2 to reach the quarters. He's bidding to build on last year's run to the semi-finals. Shaun Murphy, meanwhile, won here at Alexandra Palace back in 2015. His first round match was a 6-2 defeat of Zhang Anda
Ronnie feeling dejected
And it's fair to say O'Sullivan wasn't pleased with his performance earlier on. He said he "dragged" Hawkins down to "the most awful standard of snooker."
In case you missed it
The Rocket was far from his best as he beat Barry Hawkins 6-3 in the afternoon session. Here's our report from what was a fascinating match.
Good evening!
Hello! Welcome to tonight's coverage from the Masters quarter-final. Who will face Ronnie O'Sullivan in the semis? It'll either be Shaun Murphy or Jack Lisowski. Action gets underway just after 7pm
That's us done for the afternoon
We'll be back at 6.30pm GMT for Shaun Murphy v Jack Lisowski.
Ronnie speaks
He apologises, saying Barry was playing well till he met him, and he dragged him down to his level. Asked about that red, he says he didn't turn it down because what if you don't get another chance, but not many others could've made it.
Ronnie O'Sullivan beats Barry Hawkins 6-3!
Strange match really, neither man playing well, but Ronnie found a way to win because that's what he does, and he finished the match brilliantly. He meets Shaun Murphy or Jack Lisowski next; they meet later tonight.
O'Sullivan 5-3 Hawkins (50-50)
Whoops! Ronnie wobbles the penultimate red into the corner, hard, going up to baulk for the last one. A friendly flick on the yellow means he can then use it to develop the aforementioned off the side. But can he slide it past the pink to right corner? GOODNESS ME, OF COURSE HE CAN! That is sensational even by his standards and as the green disappears, we see Barry in-shot, looking away; I'm not surprised.
O'Sullivan 5-3 Hawkins (15-32)
It's facile to say now the idea of winning has disappeared, Barry is able to play well, but this is a good run ... then, as I type, he guides a red towards left-middle ... it looks alright, then veers into the near knuckle! He hangs his head, and well he might, because one good red opens everything and Ronnie duly nails it then sets to work on the rest. This looks like curtains.
O'Sullivan 5-3 Hawkins (0-32)
Barry goes for one to right corner and misses, but no harm done; left a plant to left, he sinks it, and it's a good one because the ball which went down was on the rail. He quickly builds an advantage, dropping in a red nicely with the rest.
O'Sullivan 5-3 Hawkins
Three on the spin for Ronnie, and he's almost home.
O'Sullivan 4-3 Hawkins (82-0)
I didn't expect Barry to play as badly as he has, but it's never a total surprise because this game is hard and so is Ronnie O'Sullivan.
O'Sullivan 4-3 Hawkins (52-0)
I don't know if he's scarred by losing to Ronnie so many times, or gutted that he's made a mess of the last two frames, but Barry can't get it going at all, missing to right-middle. This'll surely be the frame, and him winning three straight looks exceedingly unlikely.
O'Sullivan 4-3 Hawkins (36-0)
Ronnie quickly opens everything, in a way that says "Time's up" to Barry. But then an unfortunate split means he can only try a speculative one to left corner, knowing that if he misses it's going safe, and it does.
O'Sullivan 4-3 Hawkins (14-0)
Oh Barry. After Ronnie misses to right corner, Barry tries a cross-double as a shot-to-nothing, catches a different red en route back to baulk, and, as Nealf says, "He\s just feeding Ronnie chances here."
O'Sullivan 4-3 Hawkins
It's a real mess is this, and Baz looks proper peaky as Ronnie nips out, leaving him to stew. He did very well to be 2-2 at the interval, but will feel it should now be 5-2.
O'Sullivan 3-3 Hawkins (32-42)
I don't know, the greatest of all time refused the pot because it wasn't on; that might've been a clue. Ronnie spanks a glorious starter to the green, and he should pinch the frame from here, however badly he's playing.
O'Sullivan 3-3 Hawkins (31-42)
Again, Ronnie can't keep it going, missing a red to left-centre by a way. But he took it on because he didn't fancy the other one that's near, close enough to the black to be impeded by it after the latter was replaced; Barry thinks differently, and he's wrong.
O'Sullivan 3-3 Hawkins (23-42)
The pink is cursed! Barry misses another, to right corner, and he's left absolutely everything.
O'Sullivan 3-3 Hawkins (16-34)
He cannot, missing a cut on the pink, but then Ronnie botches a red and they're swapping chances now. It's rare you see TMNTPETPUAC play like this, and Baz, who trails him 17-2 overall, will know this is a proper chance to record a rare win over the greatest - if he can hold it down himself.
O'Sullivan 3-3 Hawkins (9-13)
Blinder of a long red from Bazza, but he then goes in-off having played a nice thin cut and has to watch as Ronnie creams a starter into right corner. But having broken the pack off the green, he's forced to poke to left-middle over various other reds and can't quite make it. The angle was proper tight - I'm a little surprised he took it on, though he got close - and now Barry has a chance to accumulate.
O'Sullivan 3-3 Hawkins
Ronnie develops pink off blue, leaving Barry needing two snookers ... but it doesn't run into a pottable position. So Ronnie doubles it! He'll be relieved to be level but so, I guess will his opponent.
O'Sullivan 2-3 Hawkins (66-44)
Barry needs the spider to go over blue to pink ... and he jawses it! Ronnie has a chance to clear!
O'Sullivan 2-3 Hawkins (36-44)
Earlier in the match, Fouldsy said he thought he heard a noise emanating from Ronnie's tip, and what's that? A miscue? The white leaps, misses the pink, and well done Fouldsy; chance to Barry!
O'Sullivan 2-3 Hawkins (35-37)
Running too far to be on a red, Barry plays safe, but after coaxing in a fine starter, he misses an easier red, and the crowd are into this now, whooping for Ronnie. He needed that.
O'Sullivan 2-3 Hawkins (35-16)
Not for long. Ronnie gets in again ... then misses another easy pink, this time to right-middle! He looks distinctly unimpressed with his behaviour, whole Bazza has a chance to go two in front. I bet he can't believe he's in this situation given how he's played.
O'Sullivan 2-3 Hawkins (28-0)
From the top rail, Ronnie steers in a beauty, then after a black, sends one long to the yellow, and he's about the black spot potting balls. OIf he goes into the bunch from below and it goes well, he might just fancy a maxi, but no - it's down the table for green next, and he looks a little more dialled-in than in the previous frame ... only to come a little too far on a red and miss what becomes a nasty cut. Barry, though, can't drain it either, and we're back playing safety.
O'Sullivan 2-3 Hawkins
Barry does enough, and if he can just find some form, he can really put his man under pressure.
O'Sullivan 2-2 Hawkins (13-57)
Off the pink, Barry tries promoting some or all of the four, lands in a terrible position among them, and leaves one to right-middle from what is, I'm afraid, a poor safety. Ronnie sinks it, develops another ... then misses the blue and can Bazza close it out? Ronnie's pot-success is now down at 84%.
O'Sullivan 2-2 Hawkins (12-49)
Barry knows how important this is, taking his time unsure if a ball that definitely goes goes. He drains it, but will soon have to start work on the trickier balls, four stuck together near left corner.
O'Sullivan 2-2 Hawkins (12-8)
Not for long. He overcuts a plant, Barry drains an easier one, and there are points out there for him.
O'Sullivan 2-2 Hawkins (5-0)
This is getting edgy now .Barry goes in-off, then Ronnie misses a long one followed by a short one, and we've been going almost 10 minutes in this frame, no ball potted - and, as I type, Barry has one jump out of right corner. Chance for Ronnie.
We go again!
O'Sullivan 2-2 Hawkins
Ronnie could be 4-0, but he isn't, and this is shaping up nicely. See you in 15.
O'Sullivan 2-1 Hawkins (12-61)
Awkwardly bridging over a red to poke at the pink, Barry sends it down right-middle and that's the frame. He'll be feeling pretty good that he's level despite not having played anywhere near as well as he can, and that should give him the confidence to attack the match after the interval.
O'Sullivan 2-1 Hawkins (12-45)
With an insurance red near the green bag, it should be hard for Barry to miss this chance, but then he has to use it and there are still a few tricky positional shots awaiting him if he's to secure the frame at this visit.
O'Sullivan 2-1 Hawkins (12-7)
Barry leaves the white short of the bottom rail and allowed to get his hand on the table, Ronnie deposits another nice starter into right corner. But he soon leaves a black in the jaws, then Barry misses one sent long to the yellow - he's not at one with himself here - but he does get a go shortly afterwards, Ronnie missing to right-centre and a cannon turning his shot-to-nothing into a chance. If he can get out of this mini-sesh 2-2, he'll consider it a right result.
O'Sullivan 2-1 Hawkins
A run of 47 is enough for the frame and both players will know that really, this should be 3-0. Barry needs to get a hold of himself, and fast.
O'Sullivan 1-1 Hawkins (50-0)
A loose shot means a difficult cut, long to the yellow bag, and Ronnie can't get it down. So Barry tries a similar shot - I've no idea why - misses - and offers a second frame-winning opportunity. Very quickly, the reds are split in inviting style, and it'll take another unusual miss like the pink in the previous frame for this not to be another to Ronnie.
O'Sullivan 1-1 Hawkins (18-0)
Barry misses a thin contact but Ronnie doesn't put him back - and it's a good call. A poor shot follows leaving a starter to the middle, and very soon a nudge frees the black. Trouble for the Hawk.
O'Sullivan 1-1 Hawkins
No one expected Ronnie to miss that pink - Barry even less than the man himself, I'd wager - but he did, and we're all-square. That's a decent result for the Hawk, who's not really got going yet.
O'Sullivan 1-0 Hawkins (35-61)
But he wobbles a bit on the yellow, which is frame-ball, leaving himself a nasty green, which he overcuts. So Ronnie returns to the table needing one snooker, misses his pot, and that'll be the frame.
O'Sullivan 1-0 Hawkins (35-53)
You don't expect Barry to miss - which is a big compliment, given the circumstances - and though the balls were nice, you've still got to bin them.
O'Sullivan 1-0 Hawkins (35-28)
And yet! Ronnie overcuts a straight, diagonal pink to left corner, and Barry daren't pass up this chance.
O'Sullivan 1-0 Hawkins (26-20)
Left a starter as a shot to nowt, Ronnie duly despatches it and a kind flick off the yellow leaves him bang in business. Again, Barry will be fearing the worst because the balls are lovely.
O'Sullivan 1-0 Hawkins (15-20)
Barry digs at the pack again, off short black and side - badabing! - and lands on nowt. But Ronnie, though he's got a hand on the table, can't sink this latest longun so we're back playing safety.
O'Sullivan 1-0 Hawkins (15-6)
Ronnie begins frame two with a sensational red to left corner - the kind of sensational red that tells you Barry is in trouble - then hammers a black that stays out! Chance for Baz, but his effort to right-centre won't drop - he looks surprised - and he's barely sat down by the time Ronnie's got away again, then has to lean around to check a blue's made it's way into the corner; it has, old mate, it has. However! Ronnie overcuts to left corner, and this is a chance for the Hawk to force his way into the match. Problem is, there are few open reds and he misses his first shy at breaking the pack. Still, he's at the table, and that's a start.
O'Sullivan 1-0 Hawkins
Ronnie runs out of position on 88, so no ton, but he'll settle for 1-0.
O'Sullivan 0-0 Hawkins (65-0)
One miss is all it takes. Ronnie secures the frame, and Bazza knows what he knew already.
O'Sullivan 0-0 Hawkins (39-0)
A lovely recovery pot from Ronnie, with the rest to left corner, and he's into this. He's not won this pot since 2017 so, as Philip Studd notes, he's due even though he has seven of them.
O'Sullivan 0-0 Hawkins (14-0)
Ronnie finds a beauty to left corner but lands on nothing, so it's down to the bottom rail; Barry responds in kind. But then a poor shot - he was never sneaking the white back to baulk without some cannon or other - leaves TMNTPETPUAC a simple starter, and Bazza, shaking his head, knows this could easily be 0-1.
Away we go!
Our boyz baize
Ronnie speaks again
He's in his big coat like the kid from East is East, saying he's cold. He treats these games like practise matches, just to see where he is ahead of the Cruce, and he's really looking forward to his Ken's Chinese later - the sea bass is ready.
That embarrassment Ronnie mentioned
Barry knows it well, having been gubbed 10-1 by O'Sullivan in the 2016 final - he "wanted the ground to swallow him up," he says, but he knows he's a different proposition now.
Ronnie speaks
He says no one saw the true potential of how he could play as a kid, when he was "a machine". Then he lost his way and now he feels like he's got to play his best every time, and the fear of failure motivates him to do the right thing so as not to embarrass himself; he's "driven by fear a lot of the time". He's taught himself not to be fearful on the table, and he's got so much confidence; when he plays well, his opponents feel at. He compares himself to Mike Tyson, dancing around the famous line "Everyone has a plan till they get hit in the face", saying only Hendry and Higgins absorbed everything with which he could hit them and kept going; the rest can't cope if he plays well (I'd add Selbz in the 2014 final to that). Anyway, he knows that if he plays well he wins - and so does everyone else.
Breaking news
Ronnie has had a pre-match kip. More news as I get it.
How will it go?
Well as we've been saying for decades now, if Ronnie's at it it'll take something special to beat him, and he almost never plays badly enough for someone to beat him without playing well themselves. And Barry is playing well, don't worry about that, and he won't be overawed by the crowd, the occasion or his opponent either. It's hard to look past Ronnie, but the Hawk is as live a dog as you can get.
See below!
I can't wait for this, and the good news is I - and we - don't have to. This is going to be great.
What a day ahead at The Masters
Yes, Ronnie O'Sullivan is ready to delight and thrill the fans inside Alexandra Palace on Thursday afternoon as he takes on Barry Hawkins in their quarter-final clash.
In the evening, Shaun Murphy and Jack Lisowski will take centre stage for their last-eight encounter.
The Rocket booked his place in the quarter-finals by beating Ding Junhui on Monday, and is now aiming for a first Masters title since 2016/17.
Hawkins hasn't beaten him in their last three meetings, but is relishing the match-up.
"It’s going to be unbelievable," he concluded. "Any time you play Ronnie is a big occasion, even more so in this place.
"It’s going to be electric. I’m really looking forward to it.”
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O'Sullivan talks Masters preparation and getting 'in a bubble' ahead of the tournament
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