Ronnie O’Sullivan. Picture by Monique Limbos

RONNIE O’Sullivan once again dominated proceedings this morning as he charged closer to his sixth World Championship final.

The defending champion, bidding for his third consecutive world title, won five more frames during today’s morning session to take an 11-5 lead over Barry Hawkins.

O’Sullivan just needs six more frames to complete victory and could complete the win with a session and a day to spare when he returns to action this evening (7pm start).

Leading 6-2 from Thursday’s opening session, O’Sullivan furthered his lead by winning the first four frames to take a commanding 10-2 lead.

Hawkins, badly needing a strong start, was made to rue a missed red in the first frame as O’Sullivan was in a punishing and ruthless mood with an 83 break.

O’Sullivan dominated the next frame to go 8-2 in front and back-to-back centuries of 112 and 106 saw him extend his lead to 10-2 at the mid-session interval.

Hawkins, who lost to O’Sullivan in last year’s final, finally got a frame on board after the restart and then reduced his deficit to 10-4 after O’Sullivan missed the final green along the baulk cushion.

Breaks of 24 and 47 saw O’Sullivan back to winning ways but Hawkins produced his best display of the session at the very end making a break of 106 to go back to six frames behind ahead of tonight’s third session.

This afternoon will see Mark Selby and Neil Robertson play out their second session in the other semi-final. Selby resumes 5-3 up after having the better of an enjoyable session on Thursday night.