March 9, 2002	Saturday	Zilhaj 24, 1422

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

BANGKOK, March 8: Ronnie O’Sullivan produced yet another scintillating show to take the last frame on the black and beat Essex friend Mark King 5-4 in the last-16 of the 2002 Thailand Masters Thursday.

The Rocket gave away a 4-1 lead and looked to be on his way out of Bangkok as King built a sizeable lead in the decider. But World and UK champion O’Sullivan played a series of typically brilliant shots in a decisive 41 clearance including a deep screw shot on the pink and a thin cut on the black both with the rest.

O’Sullivan had lost from 4-2 up against Paul Hunter in the Regal Welsh and from 5-2 up against Jimmy White in the Wembley Masters and was relieved not to give away another match from a winning position.

He also improved his head-to-head record against world No 13 King, having lost three of four previous meetings.

Hendry had an equally tough match and came through 5-4 against fellow Scot Alan McManus. The seven-times world champion enjoyed a timely fluked red in the last that enabled him to trap his opponent in a difficult snooker. McManus escaped at the third attempt but left Hendry well-placed for a decisive 44.

Glasgow’s world No 12 McManus had earlier led 3-0 before Hendry knocked in 74 and 101 in taking four frames in a row.

Matthew Stevens reached his first quarterfinal since the UK Championship with a 5-2 victory over Jimmy White.

World No 8 Stevens has struggled for form over the past 18 months but scored heavily against the Whirlwind and goes through to take on John Higgins.

Breaks of 64, 42, 46 and 37 helped the Welshman to a 3-1 interval lead. Londoner White pulled one back before Stevens knocked in 43 and 110 in the last two frames.