Title haul doesnot fire the Rocket

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN is relaxed about whether he can break Stephen Hendry’s remaining records.

The Rocket eased into the second round of the Scottish Open at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena yesterday with a comfortable 4-1 win over English-Cypriot Michael Georgiou.

The five-time world champion said: “If I never win another tournament it won’t bother me. If records come along, great, but if they don’t I’ll just keep playing.

“It would be nice to achieve them but that’s not what motivates me. I don’t sit there thinking about records.”

O’Sullivan hammered Shaun Murphy 10-5 in Sunday’s UK Championship Final to make it 31 career ranking titles.

His sixth UK title, which took him level with Steve Davis, leaves him just six ranking titles away from bettering Hendry’s record of 36.

And if the 42-year-old keeps playing for a few more years it looks inevitable he will overhaul Scotland’s greatest player.

Meanwhile, Alan McManus gave his fans plenty to smile about with a 4-2 first-round win over Englishman Matthew Selt.

The Glaswegian said: “I played John Higgins here last year and lost early so I didn’t feel part of the tournament.”

Compatriot Ross Valance squandered a 3-0 lead in a 4-3 defeat to Yorkshireman Ashley Hugill, while fellow Scot Ross Muir let slip a 2-0 advantage in a 4-2 defeat to another Englishman Alfie Burden.

Chinese potter Cao Yupeng pocketed his maiden 147 maximum break in a 4-0 whitewash of Andrew Higginson.

The world No.67 has set himself up for a potential £22,000 payout this week if his break is not equalled.

There is £20,000 on offer for the rolling 147 prize and an additional £2000 for the tournament high-break prize.