Feuding cuemen Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Williams remain on course for a semi-final head-to-head in the Citywest Irish Masters after cruising through their second round games in Dublin today. World number one O'Sullivan was first into the quarter-finals with a 5-1 victory over Ali Carter, followed a few minutes later by Williams, who knocked out Scotsman Jamie Burnett by the same score.
But while their match on Saturday would be eagerly anticipated after yesterday's verbal exchanges, Matthew Stevens and Paul Hunter could stop the potential showdown. O'Sullivan meets Welshman Stevens in a repeat of last season's Irish Masters quarter-final while Williams will once again hope to be Hunter's nemesis.
The latter duo have met on 11 occasions, including three times in as many months. Williams has won 10 matches and says: "I have an unbelievable record against him and hopefully I can keep it going. I should have won the other game as well because I was 5-0 up," he said, recalling his 10-9 defeat in the 2002 Benson and Hedges Masters final at Wembley.
Williams, winner of the UK and Masters titles this season, admitted he must raise his game against the talented Yorkshireman. He admitted: "It was never really a 5-1 scoreline against Jamie. He had a lot of chances that normally he would expect to take. You've got to be in it to win so I still have a chance. But I'm going to have to improve against Paul."
O'Sullivan also knows there is room for improvement in his game despite his routine win over world number 31 Carter. For the second successive match O'Sullivan went out with a new tip on his cue. He started well enough in the first two frames as Carter did not pot a ball. However, his break of 66 in the first frame turned out to be his best of the match. Carter won his only frame with a 120 to trail 3-1 but the 'Rocket' took the next two to ease through.
O'Sullivan, unbeaten in his last nine games, said: "I got off to a good start and that settled me down. Ali is a hungry player but it didn't happen for him today. But I'm not playing this game for results, I'm just playing for fun and enjoyment."
In the afternoon's final game, England's Steve Davis overcame Chris Small of Scotland 5-1.
Results:R O'Sullivan (Eng) 5-1 A Carter (Eng)M Williams (Wal) 5-1 J Burnett (Sco)S Davis (Eng) 5-1 C Small (Sco)J Higgins (Sco) 5-2 A Hamilton (Eng)Q Hann (Aus) 5-2 P Ebdon (Eng)D Harold (Eng) 5-3 S Maguire (Sco)
Filed by Shane Murray
