Ronnie O'Sullivan to play Stevens in last 16 at World Snooker Championships
Last Updated: 25/04/15 3:06pm
Ronnie O'Sullivan secured a place in the last 16 of the World Championship with a 10-3 victory over Craig Steadman at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
The five-time champion, who had gone into Wednesday’s match with a 7-2 overnight lead over the debutant, immediately extended his advantage with a run of 104 in the 10th frame.
Breaks of 61, 59, 54 and 75 in the remaining frames proved decisive as he took the honours in a scrappy morning session in Sheffield.
The Londoner was afforded a number of frame-winning chances by his opponent whose failure to covert the final black proved highly damaging.
O’Sullivan will now face two-time finalist Matthew Stevens who brushed fellow-Welshman Mark Williams aside 10-2.
The 37-year-old Stevens had an overnight lead 7-2 and a 115 break in Wednesday's opening frame had Williams on the ropes and the world No 35 cruised over the line.
The title favourite O'Sullivan did suffer some physical pain during the first day of the match due to his footwear and had to play without his shoes for some time.
When O'Sullivan was told by referee Brendan Moore he was breaching rules surrounding attire, he accepted tournament director Mike Ganley's offer of his own shoes, although it was revealed on Wednesday he wouldn't suffer a fine.
But borrowing shoes again from Ganley, son of late snooker referee Len Ganley, is not an option O'Sullivan is considering.
"When I looked at them, I thought, 'what the hell?'," he said after the match. "But they were so comfortable it was like heaven. Thanks to Mike, I was desperate."
Steadman said: "I felt fine, I just missed balls. Today was a bit weird coming back in. I didn't feel too comfortable and maybe that's because of being despondent with the scoreline. As nice as it is being at the Crucible, it's never nice to lose."
Of O'Sullivan's footwear problems, he added: "If he takes his shoes and socks off and plays with his feet, I'm not bothered. I'm sure he can do that as well."
Elsewhere on Wednesday, Joe Perry eased past China's Zhang Anda 10-4 to set up a last-16 clash with Shaun Murphy or Robin Hull. Murphy looks favourite having built up an overnight 7-2 lead.
World no 6 Judd Trump had a pretty comfortable evening and will go into Thursday with a 7-2 advantage over Stuart Carrington.
