Snooker: Rocket can't afford to misfire
Ronnie O’Sullivan is in for a tough match this afternoon when he makes his first appearance at the £688,000 Stan James British Open if results in Newcastle so far are any guide.
Rocket Ronnie meets durable Nottinghamshire professional Gary Wilkinson for a place in the last 16 and on paper should encounter few problems.
But the same could have been said of Stephen Hendry, Paul Hunter and Matthew Stevens against Anthony Davies, Ali Carter and Joe Perry.
However, the underdog prevailed in each case against three players ranked inside the world’s top 10.
There have been scares also for Champions Cup and Regal Masters winner John Higgins and world number one Mark Williams.
Both required a deciding ninth frame to qualify for round three with new dad Higgins seeing off David Gray and Williams edging out fellow Welshman Paul Davies.
Williams pulled no punches after his narrow escape. ‘‘I honestly don’t know how I am left in the tournament,’’ said the 1997 British Open champion.
‘‘Whatever happens now is a bonus because that’s the worst I’ve ever played and won.’’
Williams, runner-up to Higgins at the Champions Cup, has not won a major title for 12 months, but his consistency in the early rounds has helped protect his lead at the head of the rankings.
His latest success was Williams’ 30th consecutive first match victory in a ranking tournament. He last tasted defeat against Yorkshireman Peter Lines at the Scottish Open in Aberdeen in February 1998.
O’Sullivan’s form is much more up and down, and that is why workmanlike Wilkinson will consider he has a reasonable chance of causing another upset.
Benson and Hedges Masters winner Hunter has not backed up his Wembley victory last February with any more substantial displays.
So, it was not perhaps too surprising the world number nine was eclipsed by Essex lad Carter, a former young player of the year.
Hunter compiled three half centuries to share the first six frames but then lost two in a row to suffer a 5-3 defeat.
‘‘I didn’t play that well but winning is the main thing,’’ said Carter, who first came to prominence with victory over Stephen Hendry in the 1999 Grand Prix at Preston.
He now provides the opposition for Williams and could easily upset the form book again.
Second round upstarts Andy Hicks and Anthony Davies return to the table for third round matches today.
After defeating people’s champion Jimmy White, Hicks meets defending champion Peter Ebdon another 5-4 winner in the last 32.
Davies, a 5-1 conqueror of troubled Hendry, tackles Essex left-hander Mark King.
