Ronnie O’Sullivan has joked that he has a ‘good and straightforward’ match with Neil Robertson subsequent up because the pair put together for a blockbuster Gamers Championship quarter-final.
The Rocket was in very good type as he beat Judd Trump within the first spherical in Wolverhampton, knocking in breaks of 127, 99, 90, 83, 62 and 52 to beat the Ace 6-3.
This arrange a conflict with the Australian, who returned from struggling with Covid to beat Kyren Wilson 6-4, making breaks of 114, 100, 94 and 60 alongside the best way.
O’Sullivan was clearly delighted with how he performed in opposition to Trump, having struggled to beat him in current instances, however is aware of it doesn’t get any simpler with the Masters champion subsequent on Thursday night time.
‘I’m simply happy to get by way of,’ O’Sullivan mentioned after beating Trump. ‘It is a good match to play in and also you don’t wish to be out within the first spherical of those tournaments. I’m completely satisfied to be within the occasion and I’ve acquired a pleasant and straightforward match with Neil Robertson within the subsequent spherical now, so can’t wait!
‘There have been nonetheless a couple of errors in there. I suppose that simply occurs while you grow old, you've lapses in focus that don’t occur if you end up youthful. I attempt to make up for it with different areas of my recreation and that type of offsets these lapses that are inclined to occur.
‘It was a superb environment and a packed viewers. They got here out anticipating some good things so we tried to placed on a superb match for them.’
O’Sullivan additionally hailed Robertson’s method as among the many sport’s greatest, whereas saying that he needed to preserve altering his personal to maintain up together with his rivals.
‘I'm all the time tinkering. They need to change my title from the Rocket to the Tinkerer,’ mentioned O’Sullivan. ‘I can’t assist it, I simply need to.
‘It’s not like I’m altering my cue motion, I’m simply fiddling about with it.
‘I'm not blessed with a fantastic method, like Neil Robertson, John Higgins, Trump, Ding Junhui – all these nice cueists.
‘I've to seek for it a bit and do what you must do.’
Trump performed nicely in his defeat to O’Sullivan, however admitted that there was little that he may do in opposition to the Rocket on prime type.
Whereas he would by no means wager in opposition to Robertson, he warned that if O’Sullivan performs like that once more, then the Thunder from Down Below goes to need to convey his best possible recreation within the quarters.
‘I didn’t try this a lot mistaken, to be sincere, Ronnie was good and when he performs nicely you must play your best possible,’ mentioned Trump.
‘I didn’t play too badly, didn’t make many errors however he was too good. It’s powerful. Him and John Higgins are in their very own little world once they play nicely.
‘I’ve crushed him the final 3 times and I all the time know there’s going to be a backlash in opposition to him.
‘It’s all the time gratifying taking part in him, I’m not disenchanted, he was simply too good.’
O’Sullivan and Robertson have already met twice this season in big matches, with the Englishman profitable the ultimate of the Grand Prix, however the Aussie taking their quarter-final match on the Masters.
Stephen Hendry felt Ronnie’s win over Trump was higher than both of these performances, although, saying: ‘It’s the perfect I’ve seen him play this season and probably the most targeted I’ve seen him all season.’
The Rocket and the Thunder from Down Below meet reside on ITV4 at 7pm on Thursday 10 February.
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