Rocket powering along for a record-breaking win

WE enter the halfway stage of this year’s World Snooker Championship with the record for fallen seeds equalled as half of the world’s top-16 players are already at home.

There were surprise round-one defeats for former champions Mark Selby and Mark Williams and reigning champ Luca Brecel.

But there were no such issues for tournament favourite Ronnie O’Sullivan (right), who is just 11-8 for an eighth world title after a 10-1 rout of Jackson Page.

The Rocket now faces Ryan Day for a place in the last eight, starting tomorrow morning, for which he is a very short 1-18 shot.

Undoubtedly the tie of the second round will see Mark Allen take on John Higgins.

Allen finds himself as third favourite at 7-1 in his quest for a first Crucible crown. This year’s Shoot Out victor and Players Champion must overcome eight-time finalist Higgins if he is to better last year’s semi-final effort after the Wizard of Wishaw saw off Jamie Jones on Thursday.

Tonight pits 2015 winner

Stuart Bingham against Jack Lisowski, who overcame Ding Junhui in a 19-frame epic in round one.

Despite never winning on the tour, Lisowski is the 4-7 favourite, while Bingham is 7-5 after a convincing 10-5 win over Gary Wilson.

Also tonight, Kyren Wilson locks horns with Selby’s conqueror Joe O’Connor.

2020 runner-up Wilson didn’t hang around in his opening match, dismissing Dominic Dale 10-1, and is 4-11 to book a seventh quarter-final spot in Sheffield in 10 attempts.

O’Connor took advantage of a below-par Selby and last season’s Scottish Open runner-up is 11-5 to scalp a second seed.