Ronnie O'Sullivan is one of the four players still competing in the semifinal stage of the 2026 Snooker 900 Global Championship. The Rocket is striving to secure a trophy in his second consecutive week, following his triumph at the World Seniors Championship last week.

In the first edition of the Snooker 900 Global Championship in Reading, O'Sullivan outplayed Billy Castle in a dramatic match with a score of 5-4 in the final quarterfinal on Friday. At 50 years old, O'Sullivan, one of the supporters of the popularizing Snooker 900 format, was pushed to the limit by the amateur player but ultimately crossed the winning line with a 79-point break in the deciding frame.

In the semifinals, O'Sullivan will face Kyren Wilson, who also emerged victorious after a tough battle, beating Pankaj Advani 5-4. Advani, an Indian who was a professional player in the main circuit from 2012 to 2014, led 4-3 but made a miscue when he could have ended the match. Wilson capitalized, brought the match to a deciding frame, and won, securing his place in the semifinals.

The other semifinal on Saturday will feature Luca Brecel and Joe Perry, who also progressed through contested matches in the last quarter. Brecel defeated Florian Nüsse in another thrilling match decided by the final frame, while Perry won 5-3 against Shaun Murphy.

Murphy played his first official match since the snooker world championship final loss to Wu Yize at the beginning of the month. However, it was Perry who continued his good form, reaching the final of the World Seniors Championship last week, where he was defeated by O'Sullivan 10-4.

A second final clash for the title between the two within two weeks is entirely possible, but first, they must overcome their opponents in the penultimate round of the tournament. The Snooker 900 Global Championship has a total prize fund of £100,000 and uses new rules that have gained popularity in recent years.

The frames are played in only 15 minutes, or 900 seconds, with a shot clock in use, and the "ball in hand" rule is enforced on fouls. The format has proven entertaining to watch, although, like the World Seniors Championship last week, some have questioned the generosity of the prize money.

Both semifinals will take place on Saturday in an 11-frame format. The O'Sullivan-Wilson clash is at 14:00 BST, and the Brecel-Perry match is at 20:00 BST. The final, in a 19-frame format, is scheduled for Sunday, with live broadcasts in the UK and selected regions.