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 will face Ryan Day in the second round of the World Snooker Championship at The Crucible
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.
O’Sullivan says he is playing as well in practice as he has for six or seven years
‘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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