Welsh Open Snooker 2016: Updated Scores, Draw, Schedule After Friday's Results
Ronnie O'Sullivan was in sublime form at the 2016 Welsh Open on Friday, destroying world No.1 Mark Selby 5-1 in Cardiff to reach the semifinals.
Neil Robertson also progressed to the last-four, defeating Ding Junhui 5-2 after the Chinese cue master hit a maximum 147 break at the Motorpoint Arena.
Ding's perfect score came in the sixth frame, but the 2010 world champion was in excellent form and grabbed the victory.
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The evening session saw the two remaining quarter-final battles commence, as Mark Allen whitewashed Michael White 5-0, and Joe Perry convincingly dispatched Ben Woollaston 5-1.
Allen now meets Robertson in the last-four, and Perry has the daunting prospect of playing O'Sullivan.
Here are the results from Friday's action:
| Afternoon Session | ||
| Neil Robertson | 5-2 | Ding Junhui |
| Ronnie O'Sullivan | 5-1 | Mark Selby |
| Evening Session | ||
| Michael White | 0-5 | Mark Allen |
| Joe Perry | 5-1 | Ben Woollaston |
Evening Recap
Allen and Perry made short work of the their quarter-final matches on Friday night, closing the door on White and Woollaston's challenges.
Northern Ireland's Allen hardly had to move up the gears to earn his victory, as he skipped through the frames with embarrassing ease.
The eventual winner only made two breaks of noteworthiness—scoring a 55 in the third and a 79 in the fifth and final frame.
White couldn't live with his opponent at any point of the match, and he will be bitterly disappointed he offered so little in an important competition.
Allen said he was delighted his game plan worked on Friday:
The match between Perry and Woollaston was a closer affair, but the 41-year-old's experience was the key to victory.
Each frame was a chess battle as both players tried to outwit their opponents with a mixture of careful safety and potting.
Perry's opening break of 50 took the first frame by only 13 points, and further breaks of 57 and 74 gave the Fen Potter a 4-0 lead, despite the tightness in each frame.
Woollaston won the fifth narrowly by 72-69, but it was too little, too late—as Perry closed out with a break 71.
Afternoon Recap
O'Sullivan continues to look like the dominant force in Cardiff as he swept past Selby with little fuss.
The iconic player punished the world No. 1 at every turn and mistake, looking majestic during a destructive afternoon of break building.
Selby took the opening frame with a break of 71, but the Rocket scored a 93 to level the match.
O'Sullivan didn't look back after levelling, edging the third frame by a solitary point and posting breaks of 61 and 75 to quickly make it 4-1.
A further mistake in the final frame allowed O'Sullivan back to the table, and he expertly worked the cue ball to cross the finish line.
The Rocket raced around the table in his inimitable style, fashioning a comprehensive end to the match with a tremendous break of 132.
Ding will be wondering how he did not make the semis on Friday afternoon, but Robertson maintained his standard to edge out his opponent in a high-scoring contest.
Both players brought their best form to the table, with three huge breaks being made in the match.
Ding started in fine fettle, scoring a 120 break in the second frame of the day, but Robertson sank a 140 break as he countered in the third.
The China superstar was wildly applauded in the sixth frame as he potted his 147, with Robertson clearly appreciating his effort.
However, the Australian was already 4-2 up at this point, and he closed out the high-class match with a cautious but effective final frame.
"What a wonderful break," said Robertson after the match, per BBC Sport. "He was clearly determined because he went for a risky shot in the forties."
World Snooker's official Twitter account shared Ding's amazing effort:
Matt of the WorldSnookerBlog was sympathetic towards Ding after his loss:
It was the sixth maximum of Ding's professional career, according to WorldSnooker.com, and he takes away a £10,000 cheque for his achievement, including a further £2,000 as a highest-break prize if no one equals the feat. Ding's 147 is the 117th in snooker history, and the third of the season after Robertson and Marco Fu both hit maximums.
It’s the sixth 147 in the history of the Welsh Open; O’Sullivan has previously scored two at the competition, as well as one each for Stephen Hendry, Barry Pinches and Andrew Higginson, per World Snooker.
O'Sullivan looks like he is in the best shape of his career at the moment, and he is playing effortlessly each time he is at the table.
Robertson is his biggest challenger for the competition, but on current form, no one will be betting against the Rocket.
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