Ronnie O’Sullivan produced a majestic performance to reach the semi-finals of the World Grand Prix.

Ronnie O’Sullivan. Picture by Monique Limbos

And in this form it is hard to argue that he is destined to win his fourth ranking event of the season later this week.

O’Sullivan made breaks of 105, 102, 101, 55 and 106 to thrash a helpless Xiao Guodong 4-0 in the pair’s quarter-final encounter.

The five-times world champion was potting balls for fun and hardly gave his opponent a chance. Goudong could only muster a match total of 45 points compared to O’Sullivan’s far superior 469.

He will next face Stephen Maguire who is also in fine form having beat Shaun Murphy 5-2 to reach the last four.

The Glaswegian has been in good form this season and now is on a deep run in a major ranking event to show for it.

Maguire, winner of five ranking events, stormed into a 3-0 lead before a break of 68 secured a victory which will boost his chances of securing an automatic top-16 place at this year’s World Championship.

The two remaining quarter-final matches see world number one Mark Selby face Michael White and Ding Junhui take on Anthony McGill.

Selby rediscovered his best form during his brilliant 4-0 win over Neil Robertson despite putting in a “very poor” performance just 24 hours before in his first round match. And Paul Hunter Classic winner White produced a whitewash win himself beating Joe Perry 4-0.

China’s number one Ding beat Mark Joyce 4-1 and McGill made breaks of 52, 67 and 125 to beat Stuart Bingham 4-1.