Ronnie wins Essex boys battle
Ronnie O'Sullivan strolled to a routine 5-1 win over Stuart Bingham to get his 2010 totesport.com Welsh Open campaign under way
O'Sullivan didn't really hit top gear during the match, but without any sustained pressure from his opponent, he didn't need to.
Presented with an opening in the first frame, O'Sullivan fired in 56 before mis-cueing on the black, but it was more than enough to secure the lead in front of a packed and enthusiastic audience at the Newport Centre.
The World Number One rattled up 66 in quick time in the second, he failed on a red when the crowd was hoping to see a century.
The crowd was denied in their century in the third as well. The time the Rocket misfired after constructing a sublime run of 89.
Bingham managed to snatch the fourth frame. O'Sullivan played, possibly, one of his worst safety shots of the season, catching a red too thick and gifting Bingham the chance to close out the frame.
After the interval, the fifth was also scrappy but it went to O'Sullivan when he produced a colours clearance.
In the blink of an eye it was over and done with for Bingham. In an eight minute frame Bingham opened with 39, missed and O'Sullivan closed out the match with 89.
The assembled media, keen to get an array of quotes from O'Sullivan were slightly non-plussed by a very quick press conference which consisted mainly of 'yes' or 'no' from O'Sullivan.
Asked whether he was happy with his win and his form, O'Sullivan responded "Yeah, I'm happy."
How would you rate your performance on a scale of 1 to 10? "Eleven out of Ten."
Is it awkward to play a mate and practice partner? "Yeah, it's awkward."
End of press conference!
Mark Allen, fortunately, was far more forthcoming after his 5-2 win over Tom Ford.
In an entertaining match Ford opened up a 2-0 lead with breaks of 36 and 91. Allen responded with 58 and 56 to level at 2-2.
Further runs of 52, 64 and 61 saw Allen safely into the last 16.
Allen admitted he started slowly in the match. "I didn't get going, but Tom missed a black when I was 2-0 down and that kick started me.
"I did play better after the interval, but to be honest I got the run as well.
"Tom was a bit unlucky and it's not often I say that about my opponents!
"He'd been the better player even though I'd gone 4-2 ahead.
"I potted a red that you get once in a hundred tries. Tom's safety was so good I was forced into going for it and I made 64 off it.
"Overall this season I haven't played badly myself, but I've come up against opponent who've been better on the day.
"I've worked hard over Christmas, I had to get used to the new cue, so I had to get on the table and put the hard work in and it is beginning to pay off now.
Mark King completed a 5-1 win over Marcus Campbell to book his place in the next round and the first session of play concluded with all three seeds safely through their opening matches.
