Snooker: Ronnie O'Sullivan has beaten China's Liang Wenbo 13-7 to join Stephen Hendry and Ali Carter in the semi-finals off the 888.com snooker World Championship at The Crucible.
O'Sullivan looked certain for a massive payday after his 147 maximum break on Monday, only to see Ali Carter also make a perfect clearance last night to earn half of the money.
But the Rocket at least remains favourite for the £250,000 on offer to the tournament winner and will face Hendry in the semi-final.
Resuming on Wednesday level at 4-4, O'Sullivan rattled in breaks of 76, 67, 56, 57, 138 and 86 to take command of the match and led 11-5 after the afternoon session.
O'Sullivan was less fluent in the evening, losing the opening frame and eventually securing the next on the pink.
The 32-year-old then lost position on a break of 54 to allow Liang in to steal the 19th frame with a run of 36 and the Chinese qualifier was first in with a break of 41 in the next.
But Liang crucially missed a black to the corner pocket and O'Sullivan took advantage with a break of 79 to seal a 13-7 victory.
Seven-time champion Hendry booked his spot after a 13-7 victory over Welshman Ryan Day.
Hendry yesterday raced into an 8-1 lead and resumed today 11-5 in front, needing just two more frames for victory.
The Scot took the opening frame with breaks of 48 and 36 and although Day won the next two with runs of 49 and 71, the 28-year-old was merely delaying the inevitable as Hendry qualified for a record 12th Crucible semi-final.
Earlier today, Carter was the first to make the semis with a win over Peter Ebdon.
A 147 helped him to a 9-7 overnight lead and the 28-year-old Essex player turned that into a 13-9 victory today to seal his first semi-final appearance where he will face wither Stephen Maguire or Joe Perry.