O'Sullivan too hot for Hamilton

Ronnie O'Sullivan turned in a sparkling performance against Anthony Hamilton at Sheffield today and already has one foot in the semi-finals of the World Snooker Championship.

The world No3 stormed into a 7-1 first-session lead, including a spectacular burst of three centuries in four frames.

O'Sullivan, who was on his best behaviour today, needs just six more frames in tonight's penultimate session to set-up a semi-final against Stephen Hendry or Ian McCulloch.

He ripped through the first four frames in just an hour, outscoring world No20 Hamilton 413 points to 30. O'Sullivan later rattled off breaks of 109, 106 and 131.

On the other table in the first session today, 2000 world finalist Matthew Stevens took a 5-3 lead over first-time Crucible quarter-finalist Joe Perry.