Ronnie O'Sullivan said after winning his World Championship quarter-final against Neil Robertson at The Crucible on Wednesday night that he feared Stephen Hendry might be the first in a line of players to retire from snooker as he complained about "relentless" demands on players.
Any lingering doubts that O'Sullivan might not have the form or the temperament to land a fourth world title were emphatically dispelled as he defeated Robertson 13-10, playing exquisitely at times to close out victory over the Australian.
At 36 years and three months O'Sullivan stands to become the oldest world champion since Ray Reardon won in 1978 at 45.
Matthew Stevens stands in the way of O'Sullivan's first appearance in the final since 2008, when the game's most thrilling player became world champion for a third time.
He has threatened to retire on many occasions and, reacting to Hendry's move to quit and promote pool in China, O'Sullivan said: "I'm not surprised really. I'm pleased he has because he has nothing to prove in the game. Snooker has changed in the last couple of years and I think it suits certain people but it's not going to suit a lot of other people.
"I know Stephen's retired and you might see a few more retiring because of it, because it's a relentless schedule and until they get it right it's very difficult."
Despite his scintillating form on Wednesday, O'Sullivan is still not entirely happy with his snooker lot, particularly the heavy schedule of events which carry world ranking points. He has missed tournaments, with illness often a factor, but could finish the season on top of the world again.
"I'd love to win another one but there's still a long way to go," he said. "Everyone here is still capable of winning this event." O'Sullivan accepts his form might not last, and said: "If I lose my next match it's no big deal, it's just there's more to life. If it falls apart, it falls apart. What can I do about that?"
Robertson had little answer to his opponent's brilliance as O'Sullivan won the opening six frames of the day to surge from 5-3 behind to 9-5 in front. Robertson cut that to 9-7 by the end of the session and, when they returned, O'Sullivan was at times imperious, making runs to 104, 71, 100 and 59 to counter Robertson's 50, 89 and 77.
Robertson, the 2010 champion, said: "A lot of people thought this was maybe the final. Ronnie handled it better than me. He seems really focused. He'll definitely take some stopping."
The Crucible debut of the Welsh qualifier Jamie Jones finally came to an end on Wednesday night when he was edged out 13-11 by Ali Carter, who will play Hendry's quarter-final conqueror Stephen Maguire next. Jones, a 24-year-old from Cimla near Neath, said: "I scored really well but couldn't really get enough chances because my safety was that bad." He was pleased to win two rounds in Sheffield, though, and said: "I genuinely feel I can win an event now."
O'Sullivan's semi-final opponent, Stevens, who was runner-up at The Crucible in 2000 and 2005, completed an 11-frame winning streak as he put paid to his friend Ryan Day's hopes.
When he fell 5-2 behind on Tuesday to Day, it did not augur well for Stevens. Yet Day failed to win another frame and called his evening performance "a shambles". The end could not come soon enough for the 32-year-old Pontycymer potter when they resumed on Wednesady morning.
Seeing Day suffer was awkward for Stevens, who said: "It was tough. But we're here to try to do a job."
Day said: "I just wasn't there. I don't really know why. Towards the end it was just embarrassment. I just wanted to get out of there."