‘Blunt’ Ron hasn’t lost his edge

Michele Scarponi, who won the Giro d’Italia in 2011, died after a collision with a van while training yesterday. He was 37. Team Astana rider Scarponi was training near his home of Filottrano, near Ancona, when he was hit by a van, his team said. The cyclist finished fourth overall in the Tour of the Alps on Friday and would have led Astana at next month’s Giro. RONNIE O’SULLIVAN believes he is now snooker’s support act.

The Rocket launched himself into an 18th Betfred World Championship quarterfinal as he beat Shaun Murphy 13-7 yesterday.

And O’Sullivan, a fivetime winner of the event, has likened himself to singer James Blunt, who will be Ed Sheeran’s opening act during the US leg of his world tour. ‘I’m a support act and I don’t mind letting the other guys write a great album,’ said O’Sullivan.

‘I’m a bit like James Blunt, he seems a pretty cool dude. I’m happy to be invited along, bring him out for half an hour and say, “he can still perform” and then I’m happy to fade into the security of life.’

O’Sullivan will now face last year’s runnerup Ding Junhui in the quarter-finals, after he overcame fellow Chinese player Liang Wenbo 13-12 after a final frame shoot-out.

Ireland’s final representative in the competition is out as Antrim’s Mark Allen was beaten 13-9 by John Higgins. The Scot will now play young Englishman Kyren Wilson in the last eight.

Another Scot looking good for a quarter-final spot is Stephen Maguire, who built a 6-2 advantage over England’s Rory McLeod after the first session of their second round contest.