Ronnie O'Sullivan enjoys sweet smell of success wearing 'stinky old shoes'

ByEurosport

Updated 22/04/2015 at 21:50 GMT

Ronnie O'Sullivan kept his shoes on before putting the boot into fellow Englishman Craig Steadman as he strolled into the last 16 of the World Championship with a 10-3 win at the Crucible Theatre.

The five-times world champion - who played in his socks on Wednesday - was never at his best, but didn't have to be as he turned a 7-2 overnight lead into a 10-3 win against a slightly overwhelmed qualifier in the Sheffield venue.

O'Sullivan is likely to face Matthew Stevens for a place in the last eight in a repeat of their 2012 semi-final meeting which the Essex player won on his way to a fourth world success.

Stevens leads fellow Welshman Mark Williams 7-2, and requires three more frames to progress on Wednesday afternoon.

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Tournament favourite O'Sullivan is back in action on Sunday when he is facing the daunting prospect of nine straight days play if he is going to join fellow modern day greats Steve Davis and Ray Reardon on six world titles.

O'Sullivan's match with Steadman will never be remembered for the snooker, but the bizarre sight of O'Sullivan shedding his shoes in Wednesday's opening session before playing in his socks during the sixth frame.

He was quickly informed that playing without his shoes was in breach of tournament etiquette before being forced to borrow a pair from Mike Ganley, the tournament director, who is the son of renowned 1980s referee Len Ganley.

"I've got no fashion sense at all," O'Sullivan explained to the BBC. "I had the last ones for 10 years and just didn't want to get rid of them.

"I lost them and had to buy a new pair, and I just bought the wrong pair, they were bashing my feet. I had to take them off, I couldn't wear them.

Ronnie O'Sullivan socks

Image credit: Eurosport

"I didn't want to play in my socks but I didn't want to play in them shoes either, so I was just happy for anyone to give me any footwear that felt comfortable.

"I got a pair of (tournament director) Mike Ganley's stinky old shoes but you know what, they felt great."

Of the match, he said: "For me it's just about trying to build some momentum.

"If I've got a chance of winning this tournament then that's what I'll need to do."

For the record, O'Sullivan rolled in 104, 61, 59, 54, 75 and 54 to seal the win.

O'Sullivan will now play Matthew Stevens, who comfortably beat Mark Williams. The Welshman led his compatriot 7-2 overnight and in impressive break of 115 in the first frame of Wednesday's play set the tone as he secured the final three frames to win the match.

Elsewhere Joe Perry reached round two with a 10-4 win over Zhang Anda. The Chinese potter trailed 8-1 before the resumption of the match and reeled off three consecutive frames to put the pressure on, but he could go no further as Perry held out for the win. He could now face Shaun Murphy who leads Robin Hull 7-2.

Judd Trump takes a commanding lead into Thursday as he outplayed Stuart Carrington. The match will resume with Trump 7-2 ahead.

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