World Grand Prix 2020: Ronnie O'Sullivan continues progress with convincing win over Barry Hawkins

Published 16/12/2020 at 23:24 GMT

Ronnie O'Sullivan made one century break as he recorded a convincing 4-1 win over Barry Hawkins as he continued his superb career record against the 41-year-old. O'Sullivan now has a place in the quarter-finals of the World Grand Prix, where he will face Kyren Wilson in a rematch of this summer's World Championship final.

Ronnie O'Sullivan

Image credit: Eurosport

Ronnie O'Sullivan has reached the quarter-finals of the World Grand Prix with a 4-1 victory over Barry Hawkins in Milton Keynes.

The Rocket started the match in fine form, rattling off a century to win the first frame comprehensively.

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He followed it up with another sound performance, albeit without any big breaks, to double his lead in the second.

O'Sullivan was plagued by ill fortune in the third, with a fluent break of 58 curtailed by a foul, and a fluked snooker on Hawkins' part. It came down to a respotted black, which O'Sullivan sunk into the pocket.

Hawkins began the fourth with a break of 40. When he slipped up, O'Sullivan made a brisk 57 but a miss on the brown allowed Hawkins to return to the table. He mopped up all of the colours to get on the board.

With the 41-year-old's confidence suitably boosted he made a strong start to the fifth, but a miss on a routine red gave O'Sullivan a chance.

Though he fouled in bizarre fashion, scooping the cueball off the table, his safety game held up during a tough period of the frame, forcing Hawkins to foul.