Dafabet World Championship: Ronnie O'Sullivan completes 13-11 win over Joe Perry
Ronnie O'Sullivan fought back to see off the challenge of Joe Perry and reach the quarter-finals at The Crucible.
Last Updated: 26/04/14 10:39pm
The five-time reigning world champion was on the ropes at 11-9 down but produced his best when he needed it most to reel off four successive frames - including back-to-back century breaks - and claim a 13-11 win.
O'Sullivan, who is now unbeaten in 12 Crucible matches in a run dating back to 2011, will next face Marco Fu or 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy in the last eight.
'The Rocket' won the first frame of the session 87-16 and after Perry had re-established his two-frame lead in the next with his opponent calling a foul on himself, compiled a break of 82 to stay in touch.
But Perry refused to wilt and eased himself to within two frames of victory by claiming the 20th by 81 points to 39.
However, it was then that O'Sullivan made his move, clinching the next two frames with breaks of 53 and 52 before turning on the style to take himself over the finishing line.
O'Sullivan never led in the match until he claimed the penultimate frame with a break of 124, but once in front, he took full advantage, sealing victory with another of 113.
Ronnie thinking of Reds
O'Sullivan admitted later he had put Liverpool's Barclays Premier League title quest ahead of his own needs.
He revealed he had benefitted from a chat with renowned psychologist Dr Steve Peters after telling him not to travel to Sheffield earlier in the week so he could concentrate on his work with Brendan Rodgers' men.
O'Sullivan told BBC Sport: "Obviously Liverpool are going for the Premier League and I know how important that is for him and for the Liverpool people.
"I have got friends from Liverpool and it would be so great if they can do it, so I'm mindful that I don't want to take all his time up.
"I said, 'That's more important, I'm going to be okay', but really I made a mistake. I could have done with him here on Thursday.
"But he said he's not going to make that mistake again, he's going to be around a bit more now."
O'Sullivan now plays either Shaun Murphy or Marcu Fu for a place in the semis.
Perry said after the 13-11 loss: "I just ran into an absolute genius at the end, so what can you do?"
McManus moving closer
Alan McManus will tackle Mark Selby after seeing off fellow veteran Ken Doherty.
Leading 4-3 overnight, McManus claimed the first six frames of the morning session to take himself to within three of victory before Doherty stemmed the tide with breaks of 93 and 88.
He took the momentum from those two frames into the evening session, winning three of the four frames before the interval to trail only 11-8, but McManus extended his lead once more in frame 20 and wrapped up victory with a break of 83.
Barry Hawkins is through as well after repeating his win over Ricky Walden in last year's semi-final.
Walden had led 9-5 but Hawkins took the final two frames of Friday's play and kicked off Saturday with a 104 break, winning three of the first four frames to level the match.
He edged ahead at 11-10 - the first time he had led since winning the opening three frames - and though Walden hit back with a 53, Hawkins went ahead once more and wrapped up victory with a 61 break.
Judd Trump, the former world number one and a semi-finalist last year, reeled off four straight frames to finish the first session with a 6-2 lead over Ryan Day.
The 24-year-old was twice pegged back by Day after leading 1-0 and then 2-1 before pulling clear as he started to hit form.
Dominic Dale led Michael Wasley 7-1 after a one-sided first session to their match.
World number 73 Wasley marked his Crucible debut with a stunning upset of Ding Junhui in the first round but was unable to repeat that display, despite a 66 to win frame two.