Ronnie O’Sullivan says there is “no fun” in the way he is playing after coming back from three frames down to beat Zhang Anda 6-5 and reach the quarter-finals of the inaugural Saudi Arabia Masters.
It looked like China’s Zhang, 32, was going to beat the seven-time world champion after going 3-0 up before O’Sullivan hit back.
“The way I’ve been playing, it’s no fun for me,” he said afterwards. “I just want to play well for seven, eight or nine matches on the bounce.”
With the match poised at 3-3, Zhang took the seventh frame before O’Sullivan made it 4-4.
Zhang then moved to within one frame of victory but O’Sullivan used his experience to come through and win.
I’m better than I have ever been’
Elsewhere, world number one Judd Trump eased past Jack Lisowski 6-1 to set up a quarter-final with Neil Robertson, who beat Gary Wilson 6-1.
“I’m a better player than I ever have been,” said Australia’s Robertson afterwards in reference to his form compared to that during a disappointing 2023-24 season.
“I probably haven’t said too much about my game over the last 18 months, but I’ve got that sense of pride again with my safety game.”
Meanwhile, Shaun Murphy defeated Elliot Slessor 6-3, Scotland’s Scott Donaldson lost a thriller with Xiao Guodong 6-5 and Jimmy Robertson edged past Kyren Wilson 6-4.
Robertson faces a last-eight showdown with Mark Williams after brushing aside Stuart Bingham 6-2.
The Saudi Arabia Masters, which has been given the unofficial title of being the sport’s ‘fourth major’ by organisers, is the biggest ever tournament staged outside the UK.
With a £2.3m prize fund and £500,000 winner’s cheque, only the World Championship in Sheffield is comparable.
