World Snooker Championship 2025: Ronnie O’Sullivan Shrugs Off Claims of ‘Easier’ Run to Final

Ronnie O’Sullivan’s comeback continued in ruthless fashion at the 2025 World Snooker Championship, as he stormed past rising Chinese star Pang Junxu 13-4 to book his place in a record-extending 23rd Crucible quarterfinal.

O’Sullivan, who took a three-month break from the sport earlier this season — opting not to defend his Masters title in January — showed no signs of rust as he cruised through without breaking sweat. 

He raced into a commanding 12-4 lead after two sessions, firing 11 breaks over 50, including two stunning centuries of 105 and 135.

Returning for the third session on Monday evening needing just one more frame, the Rocket wasted no time, wrapping up the match in under 17 minutes.

Ronnie’s Playing the Long Game

Speaking after the match, the 49-year-old admitted he wasn’t so pleased with how his game is shaping up, but insisted he is playing with a long-term view rather than focusing on immediate results.

“No really. Like I said I’m playing the long game, so whatever happens here it’s not going to make any difference to how I approach the next two years. It’s just the little breakthroughs I’m looking for.”

O’Sullivan revealed after his first-round win over Ali Carter that he plans to commit himself fully to the sport for the next two years before deciding on his long-term future.

“No one wants to play Mark Selby” 

Before the tournament began, many fans anticipated a mouth-watering quarterfinal clash between O’Sullivan and four-time world champion Mark Selby. 

However, Selby was an early casualty, falling to fellow Leicester potter Ben Woollaston — who in turn was beaten by China’s Si Jiahui, O’Sullivan’s actual opponent in the last eight.

O’Sullivan has never been shy about mocking Selby’s methodical style, once calling him a "torturer" and more recently dubbing him "Midnight Selby" for his tendency to drag matches into the early hours. 

But asked if he was secretly happy to avoid a clash with Selby this year, O’Sullivan was quick to dismiss the idea, but did acknowledge how tough of a draw Selby would have been. 

“No, not really. I get on well with Mark. There’s no problem there. He’s a tough competitor and you don’t really want to play Mark Selby because he’s so good,” he told SportsBoom.co.uk. 

“No one wants to play Mark Selby.” 

Clear Path to the Final 

With Selby, Kyren Wilson, Neil Robertson, and Mark Allen all eliminated from O’Sullivan’s side of the draw, some pundits have suggested The Rocket now has a clear path to the final. 

Should he get past Si, he would face either the unseeded Chris Wakelin or ‘amateur’ Zhao Xintong — the former UK champion who recently returned from a 20-month suspension — in the semifinals.

However, O’Sullivan was quick to play down any talk of an ‘easy’ route to a record eighth world title when asked about the opportunities now in front of him.

“Not really. I mean I’ve played this so many times and the draw opens up and you get beat. That one loses, that one wins.”

“The guy that wins it is usually the guy that deserves to win it. So, it doesn’t really matter what happens to the draw.”

“Every player in this tournament is capable of winning it.”

O’Sullivan will now turn his focus to his quarterfinal against Si Jiahui, as he looks to take another step toward an historic Crucible triumph.