Snooker: Rocket safely past Harold
Ronnie O'Sullivan emerged as strong favourite to reach the Embassy World Championship final from the top half of the draw after his straight-forward second round win over Dave Harold.
After world number one Mark Williams's shock 13-12 defeat to Joe Swail earlier, O'Sullivan looks to have an ideal chance to reach his first ever Crucible final.
O'Sullivan recorded a comfortable 13-6 victory over Harold which was a far more routine affair.
But the 25-year-old from Essex does not agree that the draw has opened up for him.
"All the players who reach the quarter-finals are in form," said the Rocket. "Whoever I play from now on it won't be easy.
"Joe Swail is obviously at the top of his form so that was never going to be an easy match for Mark and there was a lot of pressure on him.
"It was a surprise result but Joe is a top-quality player and I'm still in a tough half of the draw.
"My scoreline against Dave suggests it was a comfortable win but Dave played nowhere near his best, otherwise it would have been a lot closer. I only really played well in spasms."
In this morning's other match, 1997 champion Ken Doherty put himself just two frames away from the quarter-finals by moving 11-5 clear of fellow Dubliner and practice partner Michael Judge.
Second seed John Higgins lost the opening frame to fellow Scot Chris Small and could have gone 2-0 down only for the world number 21 to miss the final black and leave it over the pocket.
That bonus lifted Higgins and he also took the next two frames for an early 3-1 lead.
