O'Sullivan sets blistering pace in Sheffield

Ronnie O'Sullivan is threatening to blow away the challenge of seven-times champion Stephen Hendry as he stormed into a 13-3 …

Ronnie O'Sullivan is threatening to blow away the challenge of seven-times champion Stephen Hendry as he stormed into a 13-3 lead in their Embassy World Championship semi-final at The Crucible.

Tournament favourite O'Sullivan extended his overnight lead from 6-2 to 13-3 against the seven-times world champion with an awesome display of potting  Hendry had been in serious danger of suffering his first ever Crucible session whitewash until he won the final frame.

But he will have to win five of the eight frames tomorrow afternoon to avoid tasting defeat with a session to spare at snooker's most famous venue for the first time.

Hendry could also experience his heaviest ever defeat which currently stands at the 9-0 drubbing handed out to him by Marcus Campbell in the first round of the 1998 UK Championship.

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The Scot made some uncharacteristic errors, missing relatively easy pots and was also guilty of poor safety play, but almost every one was punished in devastating fashion by `The Rocket'.

O'Sullivan rattled in six breaks over 50 in the eight frames, including his 12th century of the tournament.

He notched up 630 points to Hendry's 138 during the two-hour blitz.