Ronnie O'Sullivan denied Crucible newcomer Stephen Maguire a debut win at the Embassy World Championship in Sheffield on Wednesday.

But after completing an entertaining 10-6 victory O'Sullivan tipped his Scottish rival to become world title holder in the next few years.

Indeed, the Rocket was full of praise for European Open champion Maguire but not so complimentary about the game's slower players.

O'Sullivan, who now plays Andy Hicks for a place in the quarter-finals, said: "Stephen is a great player.

"He will definitely win this one day, maybe two or three times.

"I think snooker is in great shape with the likes of him, Ryan Day, Ali Carter and Ding Junhui.

"However, those players who are not so exciting, let them play in their own tournament.

"The ones that want to play snooker and go shot to shot with each other should play in an another event.

"Then you will see a better game - and it will be a lot better for it.

"Others just want to win at all costs."

O'Sullivan was so anxious to get on with the match that he conceded the 15th frame when 37-6 behind but with six reds remaining.

It was a repeat of his early concession at the Irish Masters last month when he trailed 30-0 with 115 points available.

However, he simply said: "I've got plenty of respect for Stephen.

"I just thought 'you can have that one, let's get on with the next one.

"I hear these commentators saying players need two or three chances to clear up if the balls are on the cushion.

"But these players only need one chance."

O'Sullivan began the day with a 6-3 advantage but Glaswegian Maguire's second century of the match reduced his arrears to 6-4.

However, the 2001 world champion cleared up with a superb 73 break to restore his three-frame cushion - and he also took the next two to move 9-4 ahead at the mid-session interval.

Maguire briefly threatened a comeback as he close to 9-6, helped by O'Sullivan's early declaration.

But there was to be no great escape and O'Sullivan comfortably completed his opening win.

The 23-year-old Scot, the youngest player in Sheffield this year, said: "I was shaking like a leaf in the first frame but somehow the balls went in.

"I thought to be 6-3 down after the first session was a bit harsh. 5-4 would not have been too bad.

"Ronnie made a couple of good clearances in each session and that made the difference. He certainly knows how to hurt you.

"It was always going to be a tough match - for him and me. But I'm not going to get too down.

"If someone had told me at the start of the season I will win my first ranking tournament and play Ronnie O'Sullivan at the Crucible, I would have bitten their hand off."