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Ronnie O’Sullivan compiled two 147 breaks in his 6-3 victory over Chris Wakelin in the semi-finals of the Saudi Arabia Masters – becoming the oldest player to make a maximum in the process.

The seven-time world champion produced a stunning exhibition of cue-ball control to register the 16th maximum of his career in the opening frame – and his first in competition for seven years.

‘The Rocket’, who will now face Neil Robertson in Saturday’s final, then repeated the feat in the seventh frame, again knocking in 15 reds with 15 blacks before dispatching all the colours.

In doing so he received the acclaim of all those in the arena in Jeddah – including his opponent Wakelin, who called him the greatest player of all time, adding: “That was special. What a player,” on social media.

“I’ve never played that well in a match,” O’Sullivan told the World Snooker Tour.

“I think you’ve got to get playing well, cueing well and the mind right and be focused. That’s what I felt against [Kyren] Wilson [in the last eight] – I had to really knuckle down and focus and I wanted to take that same attitude into tonight.”

He had not previously recorded a competitive 147 since the 2018 English Open.

He is only the second player to make two 147s in the same match, after Welshman Jackson Page achieved the feat in qualifying for the Worlds in April.

O’Sullivan’s tally of 17 is four more than that of John Higgins, who is a fellow member of snooker’s fabled ‘Class of 92’.

The Englishman, who also enjoyed breaks of 142 and 70 to lead 3-1 at the mid-session interval, was in scintillating form all evening.

While Wakelin made a 125 break on his way to drawing level at 3-3, O’Sullivan’s second 147 of the evening was followed by a 67 and a 134 to round off an imperious display.

He is also in line to claim a two-thirds share of a £50,000 147 bonus with Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, who knocked in the third maximum of the season earlier this week.

In Friday’s earlier last-four match – at a tournament regarded as snooker’s ‘fourth major’ by organisers – Robertson claimed a 6-3 win over Elliot Slessor.

While neither player was at their best, the rejuvenated Australian was always in control and enjoyed two runs of 93 and a 50 as he reached the 39th ranking final of his career.

“The start was crucial today, I could see Elliot was a bit nervous and I was able to use my experience,” said 2010 Crucible winner Robertson.

“To get to the final is huge in terms of ranking points, it means I should be in all of the big events later in the season which makes my scheduling so much easier.

Hugo Ekitike was Liverpool’s headline act on a night of pure theatre at Anfield which was high on emotion and rich in thrilling drama, but was also played out under the shadow of allegations of racist abuse.

Ekitike might face a future fight for his place only weeks after making a £70m from Eintracht Frankfurt, with Newcastle United rebel Alexander Isak still on Liverpool’s agenda – but he stated his case eloquently with a superb individual display that made him an instant hero on The Kop.

Liverpool’s 4-2 win, secured with late goals from Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah, was packed with sub-plots – not all of them good. Indeed, the scoreline barely touches the sides of a chaotic night.

It all started with emotional tributes to Diogo Jota, the Liverpool striker killed in a car crash in July, along with his brother Andre Silva.

The Kop was adorned with banners paying tribute to Jota, including one for his family reading: ‘Anfield will always be your home. You’ll Never Walk Alone’ before a minute’s silence.

Jota was remembered in song throughout, with a rousing minute of applause after 20 minutes for the beloved striker who wore the number 20 shirt.

It was a night when Liverpool’s expensive transition was on display, with four Premier League newcomers including Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, as well as full-back pair Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez.

The scale of change is illustrated by the fact that, excluding the inaugural 1992-93 season, Liverpool are the first reigning champions to name as many as four Premier League debutants in their opening-day starting line-up.

Ekitike was the best of that quartet by a distance, throwing up a conundrum about how head coach Arne Slot will adapt should Liverpool return to Tyneside with a bid closer to the striker Newcastle rate at £150m.

Slot has barely used a strike pairing since he arrived at Liverpool, so it would be a change of gear to combine Ekitike and Isak should the latter arrive.

For now, Slot can revel in the talent of Ekitike, who added to his Community Shield goal against Crystal Palace with a vibrant performance here – not only breaking the deadlock with a composed first-half finish but also creating a second for Cody Gakpo.

Ekitike could have had a hat-trick, missing two presentable headed chances, but this was a performance rich in promise that suggests he is a Premier League-ready striker, irrespective of further Liverpool transfer activity.

The calm manner of his finish and smart link play was a far cry from the frenetic approach of the now departed ‘Captain Chaos’ Darwin Nunez. Indeed, he is only the second player to both score and assist a goal on his Premier League debut for Liverpool – after the Uruguayan against Fulham in August 2022.

Ekitike made a ’20’ gesture in honour of Jota after scoring, while Salah replicated the beloved Portuguese’s trademark shark celebration after he wrapped up the win.

If Ekitike was the highlight, the defensive vulnerability that troubled Liverpool in pre-season and in the Community Shield was brutally exposed once more by Bournemouth’s excellence.

The absence of the suspended Ryan Gravenberch left gaping holes in Liverpool’s midfield, while the attacking approach of new full-back pairing Frimpong and Kerkez left space on the flanks to be exploited.

Liverpool’s weakness was punished by Bournemouth’s second goal, a fine equaliser from Antoine Semenyo that left Anfield living on its nerves – a goal of individual ambition but one of concern for the reigning Premier League champions.

Slot brought a calm, methodical approach to Liverpool’s game last season following the magnificent chaos of Jurgen Klopp’s reign, but this was a throwback summed up by that granstand finish.

It was also an indication that a balance must be achieved between the players who won the title last season and the integration of £300m worth of new acquisitions.

Sadly, a night of superb football entertainment was marred by alleged racist abuse towards Semenyo in the first half by a member of the crowd. Referee Anthony Taylor halted the game as it was reported to him.

Semenyo’s response was a brilliant performance that almost earned the Cherries a point, but once again racism reared its ugly head and was widely condemned.

Liverpool earned the win, but this was an almighty scare which acted as confirmation that Slot may face some early bumps in the road after last season’s stroll to the title.

BMW Championship – round two leaderboard

-14 R MacIntyre (Sco); -9 S Scheffler (US); -8 L Aberg (Swe); -7 H Matsuyama (Jap); -6 T Fleetwood (Eng), M Kim (US), M McNealy

Selected others: -5 H Hall (Eng), V Hovland (Nor);-4 R McIlroy (NI); -1 S Lowry (Ire), +1 M Fitzpatrick (Eng), J Rose (Eng); +4 J Thomas (US), C Morikawa (US), X Schauffele (US)

Robert MacIntyre shot a six-under 64 to open up a five-stroke lead in the second round of the BMW Championship in Maryland.

The Scot, who led by three at the start of play, delivered a bogey-free card that contained six birdies to sit at 14 under overall.

World number one Scottie Scheffler, on nine under, is MacIntyre’s closest challenger,. The American managed a five-under 65 on Friday.

“I’ve played beautifully the last two days,” said MacIntyre.

“Yesterday the putter was on fire. Today I felt like my iron play was exceptional. But I’ve been putting in the work the last couple of weeks to improve on what I was doing since the Wyndham.”

Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg is at eight under, with MacIntyre’s playing partner, Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, a shot further back on seven under. Both of those players also signed for 64s at Caves Valley, in what is the second event of three that make up the FedEx Cup playoffs.

There were mixed fortunes for Tommy Fleetwood, who rolled in three birdies on the front nine only for his card to be spoiled by three bogeys in the concluding five holes.

The Englishman is at six under a shot clear of his compatriot Harry Hall and two better off than Rory McIlroy, who recorded the first eagle of the week.

Playing in a stellar pairing alongside Scheffler, the world number two opened with a birdie but had his progress checked by a double-bogey five on the par three fifth.

BMW Championship – round two leaderboard

-14 R MacIntyre (Sco); -9 S Scheffler (US); -8 L Aberg (Swe); -7 H Matsuyama (Jap); -6 T Fleetwood (Eng), M Kim (US), M McNealy

Selected others: -5 H Hall (Eng), V Hovland (Nor);-4 R McIlroy (NI); -1 S Lowry (Ire), +1 M Fitzpatrick (Eng), J Rose (Eng); +4 J Thomas (US), C Morikawa (US), X Schauffele (US)

Robert MacIntyre shot a six-under 64 to open up a five-stroke lead in the second round of the BMW Championship in Maryland.

The Scot, who led by three at the start of play, delivered a bogey-free card that contained six birdies to sit at 14 under overall.

World number one Scottie Scheffler, on nine under, is MacIntyre’s closest challenger,. The American managed a five-under 65 on Friday.

“I’ve played beautifully the last two days,” said MacIntyre.

“Yesterday the putter was on fire. Today I felt like my iron play was exceptional. But I’ve been putting in the work the last couple of weeks to improve on what I was doing since the Wyndham.”

Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg is at eight under, with MacIntyre’s playing partner, Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, a shot further back on seven under. Both of those players also signed for 64s at Caves Valley, in what is the second event of three that make up the FedEx Cup playoffs.

There were mixed fortunes for Tommy Fleetwood, who rolled in three birdies on the front nine only for his card to be spoiled by three bogeys in the concluding five holes.

The Englishman is at six under a shot clear of his compatriot Harry Hall and two better off than Rory McIlroy, who recorded the first eagle of the week.

Playing in a stellar pairing alongside Scheffler, the world number two opened with a birdie but had his progress checked by a double-bogey five on the par three fifth.