Scottish Open 2020 - Ronnie O'Sullivan overcomes poor start to progress in style

ByPete Hall

Updated 08/12/2020 at 21:46 GMT

He looked to be in danger of a first-ever first round defeat in a Home Nations tournament, but Ronnie O'Sullivan turned on the style to come back from two frames down to beat Allan Taylor in the Scottish Open in Milton Keynes. Rocket started in bizarre fashion, refusing to concede the opening frame despite needing six snookers.

Ronnie O'Sullivan overcame a stuttering start to progress to the Scottish Open second round after a 4-2 victory over a determined Allan Taylor in Milton Keynes.

In a bizarre opening frame, O'Sullivan refused to concede even though he still needed six snookers, insisting Taylor return to the table time and again, with Taylor eventually wrapping up the frame by clearing up the final three colours.

The Rocket continued to look a little ragged in the second, with Taylor showing he was going to be no pushover as he took a 2-0 lead leaving O'Sullivan in danger of a first-round exit in a home nations tournament for the very first time.

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However, seemingly having been galvanised by that extra practice in the first frame, O'Sullivan stepped it up several gears, edging the third before a break of 72 levelled things up.

It was as if the first two frames never happened, as a superb 127 from Rocket saw him take the lead in the contest for the first time.

A routine break of 56 sealed O'Sullivan's progression to the second round, walking off in Milton Keynes while ripping off the tip of his cue.

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