O’sullivan feeling no pressure as he hunts sixth crown
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN has stressed that he has nothing to prove at this year’s World Championship.
The Rocket starts his quest for a sixth world title against exciting Thai potter Thepchaiya Un-nooh at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre today.
And after a quiet season by his own high standards, 44-year-old O’sullivan said: “At this stage in my career I don’t need to prove myself.
“I don’t care what anybody thinks, my CV and what I have done over the years speaks for itself. I don’t have anything to prove.
“To be honest,
I don’t really care [whether I win or not] and that is the truthful answer. I have got a back-up plan if I get beaten and have a soft landing by doing some Eurosport work.
“For me it is like an addict who needs to feed his habit. It is not about tournaments, they are all the same. For me, it is about feeding that habit whenever I need to.
“I have got everything on my terms and if I did not have it on my terms then I definitely would not be playing.
“Obviously I want to go there [to Sheffield] and have butterflies, as a sportsman that is what you want to do. But there is no pressure on me.”
O’sullivan last won the world title in
2013 and has already taken an angry swipe at World Snooker, the sport’s governing body, for allowing fans into the venue.
That decision has since been reversed, with spectators not allowed in the Crucible after new government guidelines unveiled on Friday.
On day two of the action yesterday former world champion Stuart Bingham scraped his way to victory.
The 2015 Crucible winner was cantering with a commanding 9-4 lead over debutant Ashley Carty.
But Carty, the world No 82, rallied to win three frames on the spin before Bingham finished the job for a welcome 10-7 win.
Bingham said: “I was getting anxious, I just took my foot off the gas”
Ding Junhui, a Crucible finalist in 2016, avoided a shock first round exit with a dramatic 10-9 win over English qualifier Mark King.
The Chinese ace compiled three century breaks to save the day.
Four-time world champion John
Higgins battled back from 3-2 down to lead qualifier Matthew Stevens 6-3.
Norwegian qualifier Kurt Maflin leads Dave Gilbert 5-4.