Marco Fu's 5-3 win over Ronnie O'Sullivan to reach today's Welsh Open quarter-finals at Newport was his eighth over the world champion in 15 attempts. The world No14 from Hong Kong made a break of 117 in the second frame but trailed 3-1 before clearing up with 44 in the fifth after O'Sullivan had missed a tricky red and then produced a 93 to level at 3-3 after O'Sullivan had jawed a straight pink screwing back.

When a basic blue eluded O'Sullivan in the seventh, Fu made 47 to lead 4-3 and completed his win impressively with a 115 break. O'Sullivan said that his disappointing performance "could have something to do with not playing enough lately and not being in touch with the game. I know there's something I've needed to sort out for a while. I haven't bothered but now I've got to solve the problem before [the world championship in] Sheffield."

Stephen Maguire, the world No2, now has a chance to close the gap on O'Sullivan at the top of the rankings after beating Ding Junhui 5-4 from the unpromising position of 2-4, 0-69 before clearing up with 71 in the seventh and adding the remaining two frames without Ding potting another ball.