Recap - Ronnie O'Sullivan v Marco Fu: Frame-by-frame

99-1 (89), 52-83, 111-0 (110) 0-95 (4-95) (141) 141-0, 0-122 (122), (83) 83-47 (47) 7-118 (63) 1-128 (82) 0-70 (69)

--

A brilliant opening red by O'Sullivan from distance. Had no right to pot that, but is suddenly bang in among the balls. What a chance he has got here to finish matters off. And he has finished it off. He is through to the final.

O'Sullivan with an immaculate 82 to close out that frame. He leads 5-4. One up with a possible two frames to play. The defending champion suddenly looking the likelier winner.

Fu tries to run the white up behind the brown, but the cueball runs away. And O'Sullivan slots a superb long red. It is going to be 5-4 to O'Sullivan here, who has really played some smart snooker in the past two frames.

A safety error by Fu at the outset of the ninth frame. How many is this going to cost him after O'Sullivan picks out a plant of the reds? 38 and counting so far. But he runs out of position on 46. Still a handy lead, but not a frame winniner.

Fu sinks red and blue, but a missed red down a side cushion with the rest means curtains for him in this frame. O'Sullivan tidies up with 63, and this match is all level at 4-4. Both players chasing two more frames to reach the final.

Fu first among the balls, but he misses a blue to a centre pocket after slotting an early red. O'Sullivan quickly out of his seat, and quickly up to 55 with some delightful touches despite the white drifting a few times. Nice 55 break before he runs out of position, and runs safe.

This is glorious stuff from both men. One-visit snooker. O'Sullivan broke down by missing a black on 47, and Fu cleared up with 83 to lead by the odd frame in seven. He needs two more frames to reach the final.

Fu misses a long red early on, and he could be punished heavily for that. Chance of a maximum for O'Sullivan, but he breaks down on 47 among the balls. Surprise miss that one. Chance for Fu to counter.

---

A fabulous response from O'Sullivan who quickly makes 122 in response to the 141, and we are level again at 3-3. Neither man willing to let this go easily.

A brilliant break from Fu. He breaks his own high break of 140 with a glorious run of 141. Two centuries in three frames for him. This is high quality snooker from both men. O'Sullivan's cue tip had to be replaced, but no signs of any problems with it so far.

---

Stunning response from Fu here, who slots a lovely opening red before progressing to make another immaculate century. Can break his own high break here.

---

So much for the tip problem. O'Sullivan knocks in a quickfire 95 after Fu missed a double on a red, and this match is all level again at 2-2.

---

O'Sullivan's tip has apparently split here, and Fu is going to move 2-1 clear. Brilliant stuff from Fu. A break of 110. Might be forced to have the interval early because of O'Sullivan's tip splitting. And they are having the interval a frame early so O'Sullivan can sort out his tip.

---

A bout of safety before O'Sullivan leaves a red to a centre pocket. Fu holes it, and is bang among the balls here. Chance to score heavily here.

---

Fu misses frame ball red along the cushion, and that is surely going to cost him the frame. O'Sullivan knocks in 42 to level the match at 1-1. Could have been 2-0 to Fu, but is back to 1-1. Best of nine frame match now

---

O'Sullivan looked all set to level the match at 1-1, but he somehow runs out of position making 41. Forced to run safe, but he plays a brilliant safety shot seconds later, and Fu is in trouble. O'Sullivan misses a long red from distance, chance for Fu to make the counter attack.

---

Fu in first in the second frame, but he misses an easy red bridging over the black, and O'Sullivan is allowed a reprieve. On 20 with more to come.

---

A break of 89 by Fu, and he is off to a flying start despite a green staying out. Five more needed to reach his second Masters final.

---

Fu in early with a brilliant long red, but he can only make 10 before missing a red near black spot. O'Sullivan slots a plant to score his first point of the day. A missed blue by O'Sullivan comes next, and Fu is off and running here. Frame is over as the break moves to 81. Excellent start from Fu.