Snooker: O'Sullivan in the fast lane

RONNIE O'SULLIVAN swept into the semi-finals of the Regal Masters in Motherwell last night with a 96-minute demolition of a jaded James Wattana. But even back-to-back century breaks in a 6-3 victory could not satisfy the 18-year-old from Chigwell, who faces the holder, Ken Doherty, today for a place in the final.

'I played terribly and had I been up against Stephen Hendry, I would be on my way home by now,' O'Sullivan, the UK and British Open champion, said. 'James is world No 3, but tonight he played like the world's No 23. And I'm sure he'd be the first to admit it.'

O'Sullivan potted a 115 clearance to draw level at 1-1 and followed up with 119 in the third frame - the second highest of the tournament, behind Doherty's 137. Wattana took advantage of O'Sullivan's careless cueing to draw level at 3-3, but could not sustain the momentum.

Earlier, Steve Davis defeated Billy Snaddon 6-3, despite a mobile phone going off in the audience.