Ronnie O`Sullivan socks it to Craig Steadman at World Snooker Championship
Ronnie O`Sullivan completed a routine 10-3 victory over debutant Craig Steadman at the World Championship on Wednesday, having played part of the first-round match in his socks.
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London: Ronnie O`Sullivan completed a routine 10-3 victory over debutant Craig Steadman at the World Championship on Wednesday, having played part of the first-round match in his socks.
The five-time world champion`s unusual action left him facing the prospect of a £250 ($377, 350 euros) fine for contravening the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association`s dress code.
But Nigel Mawer, head of the WPBSA`s disciplinary department, told Britain`s Press Association news agency that O`Sullivan would not face a misconduct charge.
Earlier, O`Sullivan laughed off the incident after sinking Steadman.
"I`ve got no fashion sense at all," O`Sullivan told the BBC. "I had the last ones for 10 years. I didn`t want to get rid of them and then I left them in a hotel and I lost them.
"I had this old battered pair, and I thought, `I`ve got to buy a new pair,` and I just bought the wrong pair, basically. They were bashing my feet and I had to take them off. I couldn`t wear them."
On borrowing Ganley`s shoes, O`Sullivan added: "He said, `You can`t play in your socks,` but I didn`t want to play in my shoes either.
"I got a pair of Mike Ganley`s stinky old shoes, and you know what, they felt great."
Breaks of 104, 61, 59, 54 and 75 helped O`Sullivan establish a 7-2 overnight lead at Sheffield`s Crucible Theatre in northern England and despite struggling for rhythm in Wednesday`s morning session, the Essex cueman sewed up the win.
He will face Matthew Stevens in the second round after the Welshman saw off compatriot Mark Williams 10-2.
Stevens, who lost to his friend Williams in the 2000 World Championship final, was surprised by the ease of his victory over the two-time former champion.
"It was most unexpected really -- I don`t think I`ve beaten him since 2003," Stevens said.
"But I didn`t say that to him, I was just trying to keep it out of my head. I felt comfortable out there, to beat Mark even 10-9 would be difficult. So to win 10-2 is beyond my wildest dreams really."
As for the prospect of playing O`Sullivan, Stevens said he did not fear facing the `Rocket`.
"I`m obviously a massive underdog which I don`t mind being. I was an underdog against Mark; I wasn`t expected to win that match," said Stevens.
"I`m not afraid of Ronnie. If I play well hopefully I`ll give him a good game.
"If he gets ahead, like everyone knows he`s an absolute nightmare."
China`s Zhang Anda briefly battled back against Joe Perry, winning the first three frames of Wednesday`s evening session to cut his deficit to 8-4 before the Englishman took the next two to complete a 10-4 victory.