Sheffield (England), Apr 24: Ronnie O'Sullivan became the first player to reach the world snooker championship quarter-finals here and made no repeat of the obscene hand gesture that landed him in disciplinary trouble earlier in the match. O'Sullivan defeated English qualifier Andy Hicks 13-11 to earn a four-day rest before his next match. The world professional billiards and snooker association could still take action for O'Sullivan's crude gesture in the 16th frame. The two men were all square after 16 frames and world number 62 hicks refused to buckle, but once O'Sullivan drew level at 10-10 with his fifth century of the match, hicks began to crack.
O'Sullivan's 106 added to breaks of 123, 101, 127 and 125, equalling the record of five hundreds in a best of 25 frame match by Scotland's John Higgins. The flamboyant englishman then hit the front at 11-10 and doubled his lead for the first time in the match at 12-10. Hicks hung on at 12-11 but o'sullivan finished off with 80 to squeeze through.
Bureau Report