Ronnie O’Sullivan. Picture by Monique Limbos

RONNIE O’Sullivan became snooker’s all-time leading century maker en-route to a comfortable Dafabet Masters quarter-final win over Marco Fu.

The five-times world champion wasted little time in overtaking his once close rival Stephen Hendry, making his 776th century – a 101 – in the opening frame against the Hong Kong star.

A full house crowd at London’s Alexandra Palace were on their feet as O’Sullivan sunk in the brown to reach the landmark century.

But Fu levelled the matters in the second frame after clearing the final few colours after O’Sullivan’s safety attempt on the final brown went wrong.

However, that was the only joy Fu was to have in what proved a rather one-sided quarter-final as O’Sullivan hit a break of 67 to regain the lead.

Fu appeared to be a strong favourite for the fourth frame but failed to take advanatge of a 58-17 lead as O’Sullivan stormed back with a terrific clearance to go 3-1 up at the interval.

A missed plant shot from Fu was to cost him dear after the resumption as O’Sullivan took command with a break of 85 to go 4-1 in front.

And breaks of 66 and 46 clinched O’Sullivan’s place in the semi-finals and his 43rd Masters win – another record he managed to overtake from Hendry.

O’Sullivan will next face the winner of tonight’s (Thursday) second quarter-final between Neil Robertson and Ali Carter.