Rocket steers clear of jungle
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN has revealed he snubbed the jungle this year to challenge for a record seventh UK Championship title.
The Rocket celebrated his 43rd birthday by racing into the quarterfinals with a 6-1 drubbing of Jack Lisowski.
O’Sullivan shrugged off controversy over his threats to start a breakaway series to stay in contention for the £170,000 prize. But the world No3 could have made several times that by accepting an invite for I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here.
O’Sullivan said: “I was invited to go to the jungle this year but decided to put it on the back burner for now.
“Maybe they can move this tournament so I can do both, and come flying in to York from Australia like Tarzan with my thong on for you all.
“Even up until the last minute my agent was calling me and asking, ‘Are you sure you don’t want to do it?’ I will definitely do it but I have plenty of time.
“I still believe I can win big tournaments, and it is a time of year when there are either big events on, or coming up. I always keep my eye on the prize so it won’t be a huge birthday celebration tonight. I will go out for a nice meal with some good friends and watch whatever is going on in the jungle today.”
Stephen Maguire staged a stunning comeback from 4-0 down to edge out world champion Mark Williams 6-5.
Maguire looked down and out when Williams raced to a big lead but responded with three successive centuries to lay the groundwork for an impressive revival.