Philadelphia Independent - O'Sullivan says he must play better to win eighth snooker world title after seeing off Si Jiahui

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."

No Chinese player has won snooker's most prestigious title, although many observers believe it is just a matter of time given the growth in popularity of the game in the country.

"The Chinese are such nice boys, I love to see them playing well," said O'Sullivan.

- Century record for Trump -

Meanwhile, world number one Judd Trump set a new century record for a single season as he defeated Luca Brecel 13-8 to set up a last-four clash with three-time world champion Mark Williams.

Trump did well to emerge at 8-8 after fellow former world champion Brecel reeled off a string of posts.

But when play resumed Wednesday the Englishman took charge.

Trump set the tone with a superb 115 in the opening frame to equal Neil Robertson's landmark total of 103 centuries set in the 2013/14 season.

And he bettered the Australian's mark in the very next frame with a run of 116

"I played really well tonight, I managed to give myself a boost this afternoon by staying level and that was the difference in the end," said Trump after his victory over Belgium's Brecel.

Trump, who won a dramatic 2022 semi-final 17-16 against Williams, said: "I played Mark Williams the last time I was in the semi-finals and it was an epic, he is a legend of the game."

Earlier, Williams just did enough to stave off a superb fightback from fellow former world champion John Higgins on Wednesday to win 13-12.

The Welshman won the day's opening four frames to move to the brink of victory at 12-8.

But four-time champion Higgins ensured the match would go to a deciding frame.

Williams, however, prevailed after the Scot missed a tense blue on the top cushion.

"There was not one bit of nerves," Williams, 50, insisted afterwards.

He added: "It's just a pleasure playing now. We got the standing ovation walking in and everyone was cheering. You have to enjoy it because you don't know how many times you'll be coming back here."

Zhao Xintong booked a place in the semi-finals for the first time after he won the frame he needed against Chris Wakelin to turn a 12-4 overnight lead into a 13-5 victory.

D.Parker--PI