Updated at 19.46
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN BELIEVES he could live to the age of 200 but apologised on Sunday to Crucible fans for the “embarrassing” start to his latest world title bid.
With a sixth World Championship crown in his sights, O’Sullivan made a false start against Stephen Maguire in Sheffield but atoned by winning seven out of eight frames on Sunday to secure a 10-7 victory.
The Englishman had trailed 6-3 after Saturday’s opening session but grasped a lifeline when the Scottish front-runner became jittery.
A packed house watched O’Sullivan avoid the first-round fate that befell defending champion Mark Selby on the opening day and this time he was relieved to turn on the style, a stark contrast to Saturday’s below-par performance.
“It was so embarrassing and I felt like I wanted to give them all their money back. I was gutted,” said O’Sullivan.
“They took a Saturday afternoon out to come and watch a bit of snooker. Thank God Stephen potted a few balls. I was missing balls all over the gaff.
I was lucky to get through, and that’s good for me and unlucky for Stephen.”
Maguire squandered chance after chance on Sunday and an O’Sullivan victory began to look an inevitability long before he crossed the winning line.
O’Sullivan, 42, looks to have many years ahead of him in snooker and he hopes to live a remarkably long life after dedicating himself to healthy living.
Teaming up with nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert, with whom he is writing a book, has given O’Sullivan a new outlook.
“I think I’m going to live until about 200 now, I feel so good,” he said. “The way I’m feeling now is frightening. I feel better now than I ever have.
“The biggest thing for me this year has been how I’ve tackled how I eat. I’m amazed at how good I feel and how healthy I am.
Compared to the average Briton I’ll always look well. You look at the state of some of the humans in our country and they’re massively obese, a bit like America really. I don’t want to fall into that trap.
“I never thought I’d like celery but I’m eating so much of it now I’m going to look like a celery stick at the end of this tournament.”
O’Sullivan goes on to face Graeme Dott or Ali Carter in the second round.
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Ronnie does for Snooker what Tiger Woods does for Golf. Sponsors, bums on seats, exposure. Did anyone on here even notice what Selby said after crashing out in the first round?….
Ronnie’s the greatest talent of all time and as a snooker fan, I’m absolutely delighted that he’s still around to entertain us.
@Armchair Follower: he is, because he’s a throwback to the Alex higgins, Davis , hendry ,parrot , Taylor ,,, when snoonker was huge in U.K. And Ireland
@Armchair Follower: Ronnie is still winning though.
Doesnt actually say he is going to live to 200 years old, Makes him out to be a bit cray cray the Headline.
@Professional Chef: He actually does say that, and he is a bit cray cray, wouldn’t have him any other way. The man has a way with words.
@Stephen Lyons: He says I think, In jest.
@Professional Chef: Ah I thought you meant he didn’t say it at all but now I’m guessing the 42 left out the words “I think” and have since done their little disappearing act with the original headline. Took you up wrong Pro Chef!
Glad he got through as he’s one of the few players I enjoy watching but god he loves the sound of his own voice.
Snooker loopy is Ronnie
I’ve made a plan to live forever, so far so good!
Obluque insults to both celery and fat folk. Hate you Ronnie..