O'Sullivan set for bumper pay day

Ronnie O’Sullivan is poised to land a £50,000 (€75,824) pay day after reaching the Daily Record Players Championship quarter-finals in Glasgow today.

O’Sullivan whitewashed Scotland’s Jamie Burnett 5-0 to set up a meeting with Masters champion Paul Hunter or golden oldie Steve Davis.

And Hunter is the only player able to deny O’Sullivan his cash jackpot for winning the LG Electronics Order of Merit.

But Yorkshireman Hunter would need to win the tournament on Sunday to prevent O’Sullivan finishing top of the Merit rankings.

Points have been awarded throughout the season, on top of normal world ranking points, in all events except the Wembley Masters and World Championship.

Burnett, who knocked out Irish Masters semi-finalist Peter Ebdon in the previous round, never threatened to deny O’Sullivan his place in the last eight.

The contest was all over in just 82 minutes with the O’Sullivan rounding off with a break of 106 to go with earlier runs of 61 and 107.

“Jamie didn’t play as well as I know he is capable of,” said the world number three and 2004 Welsh Open champion.

“Once I got in front I was playing well enough to stay there. I don’t care who I play next.

“I’m just enjoying my snooker. I don’t enjoy playing badly though.

“I’m a perfectionist and that’s probably my trouble. I want to play well all the time.”

Results

3rd rd: Ronnie O’Sullivan (Eng) bt Jamie Burnett (Sco) 5-0,

Peter Ebdon (Eng) bt Graeme Dott (Sco) 5-3,

Mark Williams (Wal) bt Mark King (Eng) 5-4