BEIJING, Jan. 14 (Xinhuanet) -- During snooker's Masters at the Alexandra Palace, Ronnie O'Sullivan took on Ricky Walden in the Round of 16. O'Sullivan had beaten his opponent with ease, 6-nothing in the quarter-final stage of the event last year, but would not find things so easy on this day.
There is the Rocket coming right at you -- the early stages were scrappy in the best of 11 battle. O'Sullivan led 2-1 after an hour's play. He then stepped up a gear with breaks of 77, 91 and 100 to lead 5-1. Walden, strikes back in frame seven. The Chester cueman rallied with a run of 100 to make it 5-2. From there the 32-year-old gains momentum. Clawing back another one 69-66.
Walden cleared with 73 in the next, an unlikely fight-back was in full flow. But O'Sullivan responds by getting the frame - and century - he needs. In potting the black off the last red he failed to dislodge the yellow and brown from the cushion, but a hit-and-hope yellow, banking it three times as it dropped into a center pocket. O'Sullivan went on to make 116 and his 775th century of career, equalling Stephen Hendry's long-standing record. The Rocket will meet Marco Fu in the final eight.
(Source: CNTV.com)
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