Ronnie O’Sullivan has produced yet another moment of sheer snooker genius in the European Masters against Ashely Hugill.

Ronnie O’Sullivan is making smooth progress towards the final of the European Masters after seeing off Ashley Hugill 5-2.

Surprisingly, O’Sullivan hasn’t won the competition since 2003 and so will be keen to change that this year, as he goes on to face Tom Ford in the quarter finals.

It was business as usual for ‘the Rocket’ at the beginning of the matchup, with a 141 clearance to take the opening frame, before rapidly dispatching of 96 to race into a 2-0 lead.

Hugill then rallied to take frame number three and it looked like he could be about to draw himself level; however, a moment of pure genius from O’Sullivan swiftly put that idea to bed…

Left on 62, he slotted the black into the bottom left pocket but made sure to put the perfect amount of power into the shot, ensuring that he was set up perfectly to take out the red after… despite it being at the opposite corner of the table.

The shot earnt O’Sullivan the frame and restored his command over the game.

Hugill tried to fight back, taking out 73 to again move within a frame. However, a mistake in the sixth gave the Rocket an opportunity to produce a 105 clearance, which he did in emphatic fashion.

With O’Sullivan just one frame away from victory, Hugill was feeling the pressure and couldn’t muster enough to rally in what proved to be the final frame.

He missed the black off its spot, one of multiple unforced errors towards the end that ultimately handed O’Sullivan the game.

The Rocket is back in action at 19:00 tonight (February 25th) live on Eurosport.