Snooker: Ronnie O'Sullivan takes just 58 minutes to book semi-final place at the Masters

The world champion scored 556 points without reply at Alexandra Palace

Ronnie O'Sullivan in action (GETTY IMAGES)

Ronnie O’Sullivan became king of Alexandra Palace this afternoon, defeating Ricky Walden in only 58 minutes to book a semi-final place at the Masters.

O’Sullivan dazzled the London crowd, whitewashing Walden 6-0 and scoring a record 556 points without reply.

Walden only scored 39 points in the entire match, all of which came from his 11 pots in the opening frame. The ‘Rocket’ turned the first frame around with a break of 79.

O’Sullivan’s breaks of 88 in the second frame and 72 in the third stretched his lead to 3-0, before devastating Walden with a break of 134 in the fourth.

Further visits of 77 and 56 secured O’Sullivan’s victory, in a match that the Alexandra Palace crowd would have missed if they had blinked.

"I don't know what I can do this afternoon - I suppose I can go and pick up the kids now," said O'Sullivan.

The world champion will now go on to face either world number one Neil Robertson or Stephen Maguire, in Saturday’s semi-final.