World Snooker Championship 2022 - Ronnie O'Sullivan on the brink of victory over Mark Allen after dominant display

Ronnie O’Sullivan produced a second commanding session to retain total control of his World Championship last-16 clash with Mark Allen. O’Sullivan seized control of the contest on Friday morning, and kept his foot on his opponent’s throat in ruthless fashion to hold a 12-4 lead overnight in the race to 13. Ad/> There was the prospect of O’Sullivan repeating the feat of Mark Williams and finishing his match with a session to spare, but Allen knocked in a ton in the 14th frame to ensure the contest would conclude on Saturday.

/> World Championship'What he's famed for' — McManus breaks down O'Sullivan's unique play2 HOURS AGO Allen required a good start and he got one in the opener of the evening, but only after O’Sullivan missed the final red down the bottom rail. The Northern Irishman got in the balls again in the 10th following a rare O’Sullivan safety error. Inexplicably he missed a simple pink — there won’t be many easier pots missed all tournament — and O’Sullivan made him pay with a break of 93.

Trailing by four frames, Allen needed a lot to go well. In the third frame of the session, the exact opposite happened as he potted an excellent long red only to see the cue ball feather another red and drop into the yellow pocket. From there, it was poetry from O’Sullivan as he stroked in a long red and picked off a break of 67 to extend his advantage to five frames.