Ronnie: I’ve been battling the yips
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s bid to claim a record eighth Crucible crown remains firmly on track after he beat Ryan Day 13-7 to reach the World Championship quarter-finals.
The 48-year-old went into the third session of his secondround clash with a 10-6 lead before winning three out of four frames in just over an hour yesterday afternoon to make it through to the last eight.
O’Sullivan made Welshman Day pay for not taking his chances in the opening frame of the third session as he edged a close one 62-57 to stretch his advantage to 11-6.
And the Englishman tightened his grip with a fine break of 85 in the next to get within one frame of the quarters.
The seventime champion was forced to wait as Day took the third frame of the session 94-5, but O’Sullivan wrapped up victory at the next opportunity to cruise into the last eight.
O’Sullivan said: “Ryan made it tough for me. If I’d not been as tight and as clinical in some situations he probably would have got more of a roll at times. So I was pleased to be able to stem that at points and try and have an impact as well when I got a chance.
“Early days for me, I’m just trying this new way of playing, different style of cueing just to get away from the yips that’s the easiest way of explaining it. It’s been hard work for two years and I decided I couldn’t continue playing like that, so I had to make some changes and it’s like the body and the mind are trying to catch up with each other.
“I’ve got some of it right and it’s just the other pieces need to fall in. I’m just trying to work out the puzzle at the moment.”
He added: “I’ve had such a long time in the doldrums. Two years I’ve held it down and not really mentioned anything, but it’s been really challenging.
“I’ve even had to take medication for the anxiety and that sort of stuff. Even in small tournaments, even when I’m not playing, that’s how bad the game can make me feel at times. So I didn’t want to do that anymore.”