Ronnie O’Sullivan won a tense deciding frame against China’s Wu Yize at the World Open in Yushan to reach his 66th ranking final.

It came the day after he produced the sport’s highest-ever professional break of 153 in his 5-0 quarter-final victory over Welshman Ryan Day.

The seven-time world champion will play Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, who beat world number one Judd Trump 6-4, in the final.

O’Sullivan was never behind against Wu but struggled to break clear of the world number 11 before finally completing a 6-5 victory.

Wu had the first chance in the decider, opening a decent lead with a break of 43 but 50-year-old O’Sullivan punished a poor safety shot by sinking a long red and then held his nerve with a clearance of 89.

“I like my bottle when I’m flowing,” said O’Sullivan, who has signed up to compete in the World Seniors Championship for the first time this year. “I like my bottle anyway really.

“At 5-5 when he missed, I had a chance on the red and I had to go for it. The ball went in, which I couldn’t believe, and I made a great clearance.

“I knew that if I got the red I fancied, I could clear up. In previous years I was begging my opponent to not miss because I didn’t want to embarrass myself. That is different now.

“I feel a lot happier because I’m in that frame of mind. Even if I miss, at least I fancy it.”

The Englishman has not won a ranking event since beating Trump to claim victory at the World Grand Prix in January 2024.