World Snooker Championship: Ronnie O'Sullivan leads Stuart Bingham 7-1

Ronnie O'Sullivan hit peak form as he swept 7-1 ahead in his Betfair World Championship quarter-final against Stuart Bingham.

'The Rocket' produced some his best snooker of the tournament to dismantle a bewildered Bingham, who has reached the last eight of the Crucible for the first time in his career.

In this best-of-25-frames contest, the defending champion will be targeting the winning line of 13 frames in the middle session on Wednesday morning.

The 37-year-old four-time world champion opened with breaks of 79 and 54 to claim the first frame before edging 'Ball-run' in the next by 45 points.

He then produced breaks of 111 and 87 before delighting the watching crowd with an scintillating 133 in the sixth.

O'Sullivan, who powered past Ali Carter in the round of 16, was showing some of his best form, despite almost a full year out of the sport.

He struck a punishing 78 before thankfully for Bingham's sake he ensured the consolation of the eighth frame to avoid the dreaded prospect of the Crucible's first 13-0 defeat.
Trump rallies

Judd Trump fought back from 6-2 down after the opening session to level his quarter-final with Shaun Murphy at 8-8.

Murphy extended his advantage to 8-3 before Trump took the final five frames on Tuesday evening, including a break of 118, the first century of the match from either player.

Kent left-hander Barry Hawkins opened a 9-7 lead against China's Ding Junhui.

Hawkins made breaks of 55 and 70 to move 5-3 up after the opening session and extended that to 8-4 by winning the three of the first four frames on Tuesday evening.

But Ding responded with runs of 58 and 72 to trim his deficit to two heading into the final session.

Chester's Ricky Walden made a bright start to his quarter-final against Welsh qualifier Michael White as he moved 6-2 in front.