Ronnie O'Sullivan at the Crucible

Snooker results: Ronnie O'Sullivan compares himself to a gladiator after a record Crucible victory but admits he wasn't born to play snooker

By Chris Hammer

Snooker

Sun April 17, 2022 · 4y ago

Ronnie O'Sullivan booked his place in the second round of the World Championship with a record-equalling 70th match victory at the Crucible - and later compared himself to a 'gladiator' in a fittingly entertaining press conference.

The six-time champion, whose 10-5 triumph over David Gilbert equalled Stephen Hendry's record, reeled off six frames in a row to take control after falling 3-0 down in Saturday's opening session.

Gilbert showed some spirit to pull two frames back on Sunday afternoon before O'Sullivan found another gear to race over the line and set up a second-round meeting with either Mark Allen or Scott Donaldson.

The 46-year-old, who has also equalled Steve Davis' record of 30 consecutive Crucible appearances and is also bidding to match Hendry's haul of seven world titles, fired in three centuries overall including a high break of 122 but did have a fair slice of luck in frame 13 when fluking a yellow.

He said: "I am out there playing, enjoying it and just trying to compete. It is like Gladiator. Russell Crowe has a hole in his arm and knows he is going to die but you just have to find a way. That is what winners and gladiators do.

“I probably wasn’t born to play snooker but I was born to do something with a ball. I just wish it would have been another sport where my temperament would have been suited to it. I find snooker challenging.

“To be the best at something it takes graft, time and effort. Sometimes you ask yourself, ‘Why am I doing this?’

“I was never born a winner, but I had to have it drummed into me. A bit like Serena Williams and Tiger Woods, I had that type of father figure where I was told, ‘You are going to be a success’.

“I wasn’t that bothered but I was toughened up mentally. I was mentored that way.”

Earlier during his BBC television interview, 20-time Triple Crown winner insisted he wasn't bothered about the various Crucible record pursuits and even thought too many of them might annoy Hossein Vafaei, who recently accused the Rocket of being 'bad for snooker'.

O'Sullivan, who also showed off his new glasses which are actually headphones, said: "You should know now I’m not really bothered about records and such like that. Everyone talking about the seventh, Hendry’s record, but he was a hero of mine, I’d actually quite like him to keep one of them records.

"I’ve got enough records. I won’t start going on about them or Hossein Vafaei might get the hump. I’ll stay humble and say I’m here to enjoy my snooker, have some fun and enjoy the ride."

O'Sullivan then had a light-hearted pop at the World Snooker Tour, saying: "I’ve been on great form for the last six or seven years. I just want to thank World Snooker for making my life hell, to actually find myself a life where I can just put up with whatever goes on.

"I’ve got myself in a great position now because I had to, whether I win or lose. If I lost today I’d have been disappointed because I’m actually enjoying playing out there, but I could have took a defeat and got over it. Been in the punditry box and been OK with it.

"I’m in a great place, life’s great. I think I can go on playing a lot longer than I thought I could. I don’t think I’m playing as well as when I was winning most of the stuff I played in, but I don’t have to be.

"If I can be around, be a hindrance, a lot of these guys who are past their best, still a pain to deal with sometimes."

Read: Ronnie O'Sullivan on 'that' 147 break and other players' views

Former Crucible champion Shaun Murphy went out after a 10-8 loss to Stephen Maguire, who won the final three frames to see off the 2005 winner.

Murphy was offered a chance to save himself in the 18th frame when Maguire missed a long red when up by 56 with 75 remaining, but, after potting the black three times, he missed the final red with the rest, and his chances disappeared.

Barry Hawkins suffered a 7-10 defeat to debutant Jackson Page, who quickly moved into a 3-0 lead, hit a break of 128 to help him move 9-7 clear in a decisive moment and sealed the game in the next frame.

Mark Williams led Michael White 7-1, Anthony McGill held a 6-3 lead over Liam Highfield and Zhao Xintong beat Jamie Clarke 10-2.

Read: Murphy and Williams on whether Ronnie is bad for snooker

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World Snooker: Sunday results & Monday schedule

Sunday April 17

First round (best of 19)
Morning Session: 1000 BST
TV Channel: BBC Two/Eurosport

Anthony McGill (13) 6-3 Liam Highfield (Match 7)
Zhao Xintong (7) 10-2 Jamie Clarke (Match 13) *

Afternoon Session: 1430 BST
TV Channel: BBC One/Eurosport

Mark Williams (8) 7-2 Michael White (Match 4)
Ronnie O'Sullivan (2) 10-5 David Gilbert (Match 16) *

Evening Session: 1900 BST
TV Channel: BBC Red Button/Eurosport

Barry Hawkins (9) 7-10 Jackson Page (Match 3) *
Shaun Murphy (10) 8-10 Stephen Maguire (Match 14) *

Monday April 18

First round (best of 19)
Morning Session: 1000 BST
TV Channel: BBC Two/Eurosport

Anthony McGill (13) 6-3 Liam Highfield (Match 7) *
Mark Allen (15) v Scott Donaldson (Match 15)

Afternoon Session: 1430 BST
TV Channel: BBC Two/Eurosport

Mark Williams (8) 7-2 Michael White (Match 4) *
Neil Robertson (3) v Ashley Hugill (Match 9)

Evening Session: 1900 BST
TV Channel: BBC Four/Eurosport

Stuart Bingham (12) v Lyu Haotian (Match 6)
Mark Allen (15) v Scott Donaldson (Match 15) *