O'Sullivan wobbles but blasts into semi-finals

Ronnie O'Sullivan insisted he would have to raise his game in order to win a modern-day record eighth snooker World Championship title after securing his place in this year’s semi-finals.

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O’Sullivan defeated China's Si Jiahui 13-9 in their last-eight clash on Wednesday.

But having led 10-6 following the morning session, the Englishman lost three of the first four frames in the evening as Si narrowed the gap to 11-9.

However, a superb long red paved the way for ‘The Rocket’ to win a tight 23rd frame and O'Sullivan completed his victory with a break of 74.

O'Sullivan, 49, will now face another Chinese player in former UK champion Zhao Xintong in the semi-finals at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, northern England.

“I’m just grinding it out, I had some work done on my cue today, I am playing awful and my cue feels awful but I am still here,’ O'Sullivan told the BBC.

He added: “I won't be able to get away with what I have done so far. I can’t get any worse, put it that way.”