Ronnie O’Sullivan produced a masterful exhibition of potting during his semi-final clash with John Higgins at the World Snooker Championship.

O’Sullivan has won the tournament six times in the past and he is the favourite to win it again this year.

The Rocket was leading 9-6 at The Crucible but it looked like Higgins was going to narrow the deficit to 9-7 as the Scot took a healthy lead in the frame.

Once O’Sullivan took to the table, trailing 58-15 in the frame, you had a feeling that he was about to do something very special indeed.

He started off by crashing in a red to the far-left pocket in trademark style which led to a ripple of applause by the audience.

He then showed that he has just as much finesse, as he does power when he took aim at the black.

His shot kissed the left edge of the black ball and it slowly trickled its way into the pocket to firmly set himself on the way to a glorious run of shots.

The Englishman proceeded to draw level in the frame leaving just one re-spotted black ball for Higgins and O’Sullivan.

The door was left slightly open for Higgins as he had a shot to reduce the match to a two-frame deficit.

He missed an extremely difficult shot as he aimed for the far-right pocket with him agonisingly missing.

O’Sullivan wasn’t to be denied though and he found the middle pocket with the black to earn himself a 10-6 lead at the end of the afternoon session.

Snooker legend Steve Davis called it ‘a monster clearance’.

Ronnie O'Sullivan in action
SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - APRIL 26: Ronnie O'Sullivan of England looks on after playing a shot during the Betfred World Snooker Championship Quarter Final match between Ronnie O'Sullivan of England and Stephen Maguire of Scotland at Crucible Theatre on April 26, 2022 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - APRIL 26: Ronnie O'Sullivan of England looks on after playing a shot during the Betfred World Snooker Championship Quarter Final match between Ronnie O'Sullivan of England and Stephen Maguire of Scotland at Crucible Theatre on April 26, 2022 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

He said: “He looks like a winner. It’s a good time for John Higgins to have a break to hopefully reset.

“He’s got to come out really strong because Ronnie looks all of a sudden like he’s got clearance from his opponent.”

The match will continue this morning and it’s a race to 17 frames.

The winner of the match will face the winner of the other semi-final between Judd Trump and Mark Williams.

Trump leads the Welshman 13-11 and they will revisit their encounter this afternoon.