Old master Ronnie O’Sullivan compared the Crucible to a creche after he made a blistering start to his bid for a record eighth World Championship.
The Rocket, 50, blew away Chinese wonderkid He Guoqiang 10-2 in front of Manchester United legend Paul Scholes.
World No12 O’Sullivan led 7-2 overnight and needed just 36 minutes to power through in his quest for another famous Crucible crown.
O’Sullivan made the ‘crazy decision’ to change his cue between sessions but delighted Scholes and his army of fans with two century breaks as he signed off in style.
‘Hanging around the venue and being in the practice room in this venue I feel old now’, admitted O’Sullivan, who is making a record 34th consecutive appearance in Sheffield.
‘Everyone’s 23, it’s like walking into a creche. I’m still hanging around, still having a go. I’m not the player I was. I probably never will be.
The Rocket, 50, blew away Chinese wonderkid He Guoqiang 10-2 in front of Manchester United legend Paul Scholes
O’Sullivan made the ‘crazy decision’ to change his cue between sessions
‘I’ve got a new method. I was lost for three years, so as long as I can enjoy my snooker which I am at the moment, that’s good enough for me.
‘I have to rely on a bit of luck to win these tournaments now whereas a few years ago I felt it would take someone really good playing their best to beat me.’
The Rocket made breaks of 72, 97, 113, 52 and 86 to boast a commanding five-frame cushion overnight.
And he made further runs of 62, 113 and 100 to set up a mouthwatering last-16 showdown with old foe John Higgins on Saturday.
That meeting will extend a 30-year Crucible rivalry between two of the all-time greats.
On his cue, O’Sullivan said: ‘I think the tip’s more important than the cue to be honest. That’s why I brought two cues down, I’ve been saving this one all year because it had a bit of life in it.
‘I was thinking if I come here and my main cue’s no good, I’d rather have a cue I like with a good tip on.
‘I can get used to anything pretty quickly if I like it. The tip wasn’t good yesterday. I did a good job considering. A bit of a roll of the dice, a bit of a gamble.
‘I was a bit nervous because I could look a bit silly. You have to back yourself. I make some crazy decisions in everyone else’s eyes, but they make complete sense to me.
“’It has seemed to work for me over the years so I tend to listen to my own advice. It might go wrong sometimes, but overall it’s worked pretty well for me.’
