Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes watched Ronnie O’Sullivan in action against He Guoqiang at the Crucible on Wednesday afternoon
Paul Scholes received an apology from the BBC’s John Parrott because of how few frames he got to watch Ronnie O’Sullivan in action on Wednesday. Scholes was sitting on the front row for the second session of O’Sullivan’s World Snooker Championship first-round match against He Guoqiang.
O’Sullivan led 7-2 from the first session and needed just three frames at the Crucible to secure a dominant victory and his spot in the last 16. During the ninth frame of the match, the BBC cameras cut to Scholes watching on, with Parrott saying: “A very interested spectator, one of England’s greatest midfielders, Paul Scholes, is here today to watch Ronnie. I’m sure he’ll be impressed with what he’s seen.”
Ken Doherty then added from the BBC studio at the end of the frame: “Fantastic. One great watching another. What a player he was! I know he loves the snooker. A lot of the footballers love to play snooker in their spare time. Great to have him here.”
But the match was completed soon after, as O’Sullivan wrapped it up with stylish century breaks of 113 and 120. Parrott added: “Paul Scholes might have enjoyed this, but he’s only going to see three frames of it. Sorry Paul, this man is just too good.”
O’Sullivan, 50, is making a record-extending 34th consecutive appearance at the Crucible and takes on fellow Class of 92 snooker icon John Higgins in the next round in Sheffield.
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“A couple of oldies,” the seven-time Crucible king said. “I was saying just hanging around this venue, I feel kind of old now because everyone is 22, 23. It’s like walking into a creche! But we are still hanging around and having a go. I am not the player I was and probably never will be, but as long as I can still enjoy the game…
“I am starting to enjoy it again. I’ve got a new method. I was a bit lost for three years, really lost. I am getting through the ball but still not good enough to win these events; I have to rely on a bit of luck, whereas years ago I felt if my game was OK, it’d take someone really good at their best to beat me.
“Not so much now! I have to play really good and they can play alright and still beat me. John loves playing me. He really enjoys it. I think he plays better against me than I do against him. I think in a way I will be a bit of an underdog because I’ve hardly played for the last three years compared to John.
“He’s at every tournament and beating a lot of good players. Rusty Ron comes here and rolls a bit of a dice. Sometimes he throws some sixes, but most of the time they’re ones the last three years! Let’s hope I can throw a couple of fives or sixes against John. But he’s probably the favourite, but it’s a different type of pressure.
“The pressure’s off me and more on John in this match. It should be a good game. Hopefully I can give him a decent game!”
O’Sullivan admitted having cue tip issues this week. He continued: “I think the tip is more important than the cue to be honest with you. That’s why I brought two cues.
“I have been saving this all year because it had a bit of life in it and I thought if I come here and my main cue is no good, then I’d rather have a cue I like with a good tip on because I can get used to anything pretty quickly if I like it.
“The tip wasn’t good yesterday. I did a good job considering. A bit of a roll of the dice, a bit of a gamble, I was a bit nervous because I thought I could look a bit silly, but you have to back yourself. I back myself.
“I make some crazy decisions in everyone else’s eyes, but they make complete sense to me and it’s seemed to work for me over the years, so I tend to listen to my own advice. It might go wrong sometimes, but overall it’s worked pretty well for me.”
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