Thaindian News

Sheffield (England), May 5 (IANS) Ronnie O’Sullivan moved closer to the World Snooker Championship final Friday after his six-frame burst helped him take a 11-5 lead over Matthew Stevens.

In the best of 33 frames match, O’Sullivan, three-time winner of snooker’s biggest tournament, needs to win six more frames in the remaining two sessions Saturday for his fourth final in the Crucible Theatre.

O’Sullivan opened the lead 5-3 after the first session, continuing his scintillating form highlighted by two century breaks of 110 and 113 and winning six consecutive frames.

It is a feat the English veteran has achieved in every round of the Championship, Xinhua reports.

Though the result seemingly proved lopsided, it was Stevens who regained momentum in the afternoon by winning the first two frames, drawing level with the “Rocket” at 5-5 after a break of 60 and a brilliant 63 clearance.

But the offensive-minded O’Sullivan re-established the lead with a break of 62 and then his first century of the session to lead 7-5.

The ruthless 37-year-old was in top gear to clinch another three frames by hitting successive breaks, leaving no room for the Welsh Dragon.

The World No. 13 sealed the session with another crispy century to put one foot in the final.

In the other semifinal, Allister Carter led Stephen Maguire 14- 10 after the third-session battle.