Ronnie O’Sullivan is through to the quarter-finals of the World Championship – and the man he beat is tipping him to be crowned champion once again.

The five-times world champion comfortably booked his place  into the last eight, beating Shaun Murphy 13-7 on Saturday morning.

Ronnie O’Sullivan. Picture by Monique Limbos

Victory for O’Sullivan means he stands just three more wins away from his sixth world title.

And the way he did his business today, winning three out of the four frames featuring solid break building and phenomenal long potting certainly indicated he will take some stopping if he carries on that form.

One man echoing that view point is Murphy who admitted the better player won.

“Ronnie played really well in the whole match and if he plays like that with that level of focus I think he’ll win.

“I don’t subscribe to this not being bothered stuff that he comes out with, but he looked like he was trying to me.

“He is still the benchmark by which we all measure ourselves, if he turns up for his next game with that level of focus then whoever he plays is in trouble.”

And the next man to face O’Sullivan is China’s top ranked star Ding Junhui who won a thriller encounter against Liang Wenbo which went all the way to final frame.

Ding Junhui. Picture by Monique Limbos

Ding, runner-up of last year’s World Championship, fought back from 11-12 down to win one of the most thrilling games the tournament has seen so far.

Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Ding Junhui Head to Head (in major events)

Source: Cuetracker