Ronnie O'Sullivan
Ronnie O'Sullivan has won the Masters on five previous occasions during his illustrious career Getty

Ronnie O'Sullivan continued his successful return to tournament snooker with a Masters quarter-final victory over Mark Selby on 14 January. The 40-year-old, who returned from a nine-month break from the sport to beat Mark Williams in round one, booked his place in the last four by triumphing 6-3 at Alexandra Palace.

After both players won an early frame each, The Rocket took a 2-1 advantage before a break of 112 – the highest of the match – extended his lead further still. Selby hit back with a score of 85 but another century from O'Sullivan had the 2014 champion well on his way to a comfortable win in the best of 11 match.

World number one Selby kept himself alive with a break of 68, but his opponent sealed victory by three points in frame number nine with a magnificent 73 clearance.

After his latest win, O'Sullivan told BBC Sport: "You're not going to win this tournament by playing negative. It was a chance but I'm trying to kid myself I'm confident.

"I felt a bit more relaxed and comfortable. My attitude was fantastic. But I'm struggling with my technique and it's just the occasion and the competitive instinct within me that's making me try and find something. I'm not cruising where you flick through the gears."

Tonight's second quarter-final will see Mark Allen, who beat defending champion Shaun Murphy last time out, face Barry Hawkins. On Friday (15 January), Judd Trump meets Neil Robertson and reigning world champion Stuart Bingham takes on John Higgins. The winner of that latter contest will play O'Sullivan next.

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