After defeating Barry Hawkins in the Players Championship in Preston, Ronnie O’Sullivan tried to speak with an odd Australian accent during his post-match interviews.
At the Guild Hall, world number three O’Sullivan survived a comeback from Hawkins to win 6-4 in the opening round and earn a matchup with either John Higgins or Mark Selby in the final eight.
Upon being questioned if he had a specific motivation for speaking with an Australian accent, the five-time world champion from Essex replied, “No mate, I just feel totally positive.”
Since we English people enjoy a good loser, I decided to stop being a loser and start speaking like an Aussie. Win the Ashes, my friend.
Before Hawkins could mount a comeback, the defending champion O’Sullivan led 3-0 and 5-2. He started the match with a 106-frame break
After breaking for 104 in the fourth game to win his opening set, the world number 10 cut the lead to 5-4 with a spectacular 110 in the ninth, but O’Sullivan sealed the deal with 64 in the following game.
Mark Allen, the 2016 champion, defeated Stephen Maguire 5-2 to go to Thursday’s round of eight, where he will face either Stuart Bingham or David Gilbert
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