Ronnie O’Sullivan edges Zhang Anda to reach quarterfinals of Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters

Ronnie O’Sullivan is through to the quarter-finals of Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters after beating Zhang Anda 6-5 (Supplied)
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Updated 05 September 2024
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Ronnie O’Sullivan edges Zhang Anda to reach quarterfinals of Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters

  • ‘The Rocket’ trailed 3 times against China’s world No. 12 before prevailing 6-5 in back-and-forth contest
  • Former world champions Judd Trump, Mark Williams, Shaun Murphy and Neil Robertson also progress with 144 field down to last 8 in race for snooker’s new major title

RIYADH: Ronnie O’Sullivan booked his place in the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters quarterfinals with a majestic 6-5 win against Zhang Anda on Wednesday evening in Riyadh, coming from behind three times before clinching the deciding frame.

O’Sullivan, known as “The Rocket,” trailed China’s world No. 12 by three heading into the fourth, bringing the match level at 3-3 before Zhang twice regained the lead at 4-3 and 5-4.

But O’Sullivan rallied in the final two frames with breaks of 87 and 78, sending him through to the last eight.

Also joining O’Sullivan in the quarterfinals are world No. 1 Judd Trump, seventh seed Shaun Murphy, three-time world champion Mark Williams, and six-time major winner Neil Robertson.

The last 16 also saw ranked outsider Jimmy Robertson continue his blistering form to knock out reigning world champion Kyren Wilson.

The Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters continues on Thursday with four matches to determine the semifinal lineup.


South Africa do not fear Salah or Marmoush, coach Broos says

Updated 25 December 2025
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South Africa do not fear Salah or Marmoush, coach Broos says

  • South Africa’s Belgian coach said he will not use a special approach to contain Salah or Marmoush
  • “We are focused on no one. The most important thing is ⁠the team,” Bross said

RABAT: Coach Hugo Broos said South Africa do not fear Egypt’s Premier League contingent, Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, ahead of their Group B clash in the Africa Cup of Nations on Friday.
Manchester City forward Marmoush scored the equalizer against Zimbabwe, before a late strike from Liverpool’s Salah secured a 2-1 win in their opening game in Morocco on Monday.
South Africa beat Angola by the ⁠same score in their Group B opener thanks to Lyle Foster’s screamer.
South Africa’s Belgian coach said he will not use a special approach to contain Salah or Marmoush.
“We are focused on no one. The most important thing is ⁠the team,” Bross, who led Cameroon to the 2017 edition title over Egypt, told a press conference on Thursday.
“We all know how good Salah is, we all know how good Marmoush is and we all know how good Trezeguet is and other players. They are such a good team. Why should we focus on one player? We ⁠have to be prepared to beat the team.”
The last meeting between the two sides in AFCON ended in South Africa’s favor, after they beat the hosts of the 2019 edition 1-0 in the Round of 16.
“We have to put Egypt in difficult (situations) and you can only do that when you use your quality and the players you normally use,” added Broos.