(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Joe O’Connor to Face Ronnie O’Sullivan After Dominant Win at Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters
Joe O’Connor impressed with a commanding 5-0 victory over Sanderson Lam in round four of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, setting up a last-32 showdown with fan favorite Ronnie O’Sullivan in Jeddah on Tuesday.
O’Connor, who was runner-up in the Championship League earlier this season, showed strong form with breaks of 97, 69, and 112 to seal the whitewash. The Leicester player said, “I am playing solid this season and feel there are plenty of gears to come. I come to every tournament aiming to win it. Ronnie is the best ever, a pleasure to watch when he’s on form, and I enjoy competing against top players.”
In other action, Stephen Maguire continued his strong start to the season by defeating close friend Anthony McGill 5-0, with notable breaks including 128 and 81. Maguire will now face Ding Junhui, stating, “Winning matches builds confidence, and I feel I can still compete with the big boys.”
Ben Woollaston edged out Jack Lisowski 5-4 in a tight contest, setting up a match with Neil Robertson. Woollaston, who recently defeated Mark Selby at the Crucible, said, “Beating Mark gave me confidence, especially in safety play. I know I need to score heavier to compete at the top.”
Thailand’s Thepchaiya Un-Nooh followed his recent 147 maximum break with a 5-1 win over Jak Jones and will face Shaun Murphy next.
China’s Yuan Sijun remains unbeaten this season after a 5-0 win over Stan Moody. Oliver Lines scored a century (106) in his 5-2 victory against Noppon Saengkham and will meet Judd Trump.
Elliot Slessor staged a thrilling comeback from 4-1 down to win 5-4 against Lan Yuhao, while Wu Yize impressed with a 5-1 win over Matthew Stevens, hitting multiple high breaks.
Steven Hallworth earned a career-high payday of £20,000 by defeating Zhou Yuelong. Four players from the first round—Farakh Ajaib (Pakistan), Chang Bingyu (China), Iulian Boiko (Ukraine), and Hallworth—have advanced to the last 32.
