Ronnie O’Sullivan thumps Jackson Page 10-1 to reach second round of World Snooker Championship; seven-time champion to play Ryan Day in second round at The Crucible; John Higgins vs Jamie Jones concludes first round on Thursday evening
Last Updated: 25/04/24 2:31pm
Ronnie O’Sullivan breezed into the second round of the World Snooker Championship as he began his pursuit of a record eighth title with a 10-1 demolition of Jackson Page at The Crucible.
O’Sullivan – aiming to become just the fourth man, after Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis and Mark Williams, to win The Masters, UK Championship and World Championship in the same season – led Page 8-1 overnight and wrapped up victory on Thursday afternoon.
The 48-year-old will play Ryan Day in the last 16 following Day’s 10-8 win over 15th seed Barry Hawkins on Wednesday night.
Day’s victory took the number of seeds dumped out in the first round to a record eight, with defending champion Luca Brecel and four-time winner Mark Selby among those to fall.
O’Sullivan has won five tournaments already this season, with his Masters and UK Championship triumphs, for a record eighth time each, joined by victories at the World Grand Prix, Shanghai Masters and World Masters of Snooker.
The Rocket’s win over Welsh qualifier Page – who took his only frame of the match with a superb 142 break – was his most emphatic since beating Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 10-1 in the first round four years ago.
O’Sullivan moved one frame from victory over Page with a 79 break and then booked his place in the second round in 40 minutes.
‘I have played terrible for two years but I know how to win’
Ronnie O’Sullivan, speaking to the BBC:
“I was pleased with my performance. I played and cued well which was good. Jackson is a really good player so I knew I had to be on my game. It was one of the hardest first-round draws I could have got.
“I played terrible for two years but I know how to win. That is something I am blessed with. I don’t lie when I say I am not playing well. A lot of people think I am but I am not a liar. I say what I feel.
“I haven’t really cued smoothly but I have started working with Nic Barrow, a coach who knows my game inside out, as I decided I can’t coach myself anymore.
“I have felt as good on the practice tables in the last couple of weeks as I have in the last six to seven years.
“I just play. The harder the test the more I see it as a challenge. I have trained hard all my life and I am mentally tough and ready to play whenever.”
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