RONNIE O’SULLIVAN branded the table conditions at the Xi’an Grand Prix as “probably the hardest” he had ever encountered in his career – and urged fitters to change the “damp” cloth DAILY.
Locals in Xi’an had no complaints as the Rocket hit breaks of 63, 128, 53 and 54 in a 5-1 demolition job of China’s Yao Pengcheng.
Ronnie O’Sullivan was furious with conditions at the Xi’an Grand Prix[/caption]
The Rocket made light work of China’s Yao Pengcheng on Tuesday[/caption]
Yet the sport’s best cueist was unhappy with the condition of the baize on table two and called on bosses to make frequent alterations if they want to see better snooker before the final on Monday.
O’Sullivan – who faces resurgent Scotsman Stephen Maguire in the Last 32 on Thursday – said: “The conditions were so hard.
“Probably the hardest conditions I’ve ever had to play in.
“The balls won’t open up, you can’t screw back. The white just runs on forever. Cushions are bouncing.
“If they want to see some good snooker this week, I’d suggest they change the cloth every day because it’s so damp.
“Virtually impossible to move the white around and open the balls up.”
After winning his seventh match of the season, O’Sullivan compared himself to sporting geniuses Tiger Woods, Roger Federer and Lionel Messi.
And he claimed that having the fans’ love across the globe has “been the best thing about my career”.
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Wherever the seven-time world champion goes in the world, there is always going to be a big crowd watching his snooker matches, even more so as his time at the top is not going to last forever.
Like the greats in golf, tennis and football, O’Sullivan is pleased he can entertain the masses and be “that guy” that attracts attention.
The 49-year-old said: “Listen, I’ve been playing for 33 years now on the main tour.
“For any snooker fan around the world, I’m always going to have good support because of how I’ve played over the years.
“And I’m really grateful for that. I feel like that’s probably been the best thing about my career. That I’ve had such good support from the fans.
“So it means I obviously play the game the way people like to watch it. You know, they want to be entertained.
“They want to go away watching something and kind of go, ‘oh, I feel like I’ve got something from that’.
“I don’t know what it is they get when they watch me play, but if it makes them feel good about themselves, then that means I feel good.
“Maybe it’s a bit like when Tiger Woods used to play golf, a bit like when Federer played tennis, Messi plays football. People seem to get great enjoyment from it. So, I’m happy to be that guy.”
Robert Milkins – who is in danger of dropping off the Tour next year – shocked reigning world champion Zhao Xintong 5-2 in a low-scoring contest.
World No.1 Judd Trump is having a wretched season and it continued this week as he lost 5-4 to Welshman Matthew Stevens in round two.
