O’Sullivan laughs off pressure

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN says he ‘couldn’t give a monkey’s’ if he crashes out in the first round at the Crucible — even though a camera crew are following his every move. The world No 1 is being filmed for a documentary, with producers hoping to capture him winning a record-equalling seventh world title. O’Sullivan faces a tough opener against former semi-finalist and world No 19 David Gilbert today. But the 46-year-old said: ‘If I get bombed out in the first round, I couldn’t give a monkey’s. ‘The documentary isn’t about me trying to win a world title. If it happens, great. If not, they’ll have to put up with a first-round exit.’ O’Sullivan also insists he is not motivated by trying to match Stephen Hendry’s haul of seven world titles.

‘Seven, eight, nine, ten, they’re just numbers to me,’ he said.

First-round draw: MS el by(1)v J Jones, Y Bingtao (16) v C Wakelin, B Hawkins (9) vJ Page, M Williams (8) vM White, K Wilson (5) vD Junhui,S Bingham(12)vLHao ti an, A McGill (13) v L Highfield, J Trump (4) v H Vafaei, NRo bert son(3)vA Hug ill, J Lisowski (14) vM Stevens, LB recel(11)v NSaengkham,JHigg ins (6) vT Un-Nooh, ZX in tong (7) vJ Clarke, S Murphy (10) vS Maguire, MA ll en(15)vS Donaldson, R O’ Sullivan (2) vD Gilbert.