Perfectionist Ronnie books grudge match

Ronnie O’Sullivan made four century breaks on his way to the Irish Masters semi-finals tonight but insisted: “I made far too many mistakes.”

O’Sullivan booked a grudge match with Welsh rival Mark Williams on Saturday by beating Gerard Greene 6-4, helped by runs of 107, 137, 114 and 128.

Greene scored just 11 points in the six frames which moved O’Sullivan to within two wins of his fourth title of the campaign.

“My all-round game was not that great,” said the world number one.

“Gerard had chances to beat me but he never took them. In fact, part of me wished I was going to lose so I could go home.

“And I played a couple of shots deliberately knowing something could go wrong.

“It’s not that I don’t like Ireland or I want to lose but I just get these thoughts in my head which I hate.

“And if I had lost then I would have been pig sick.”

O’Sullivan believes four days of “solitary confinement” in his hotel room may have sent him stir crazy.

“It feels as though I have been in prison. I haven’t seen any daylight so hopefully now I can get some fresh air before I play again,” he added.

“I hate being ill and I get really upset when I am.”

The world number one’s ‘flu symptoms have lingered since he arrived in Dublin last Sunday.

“I just hope it doesn’t come back because everyone seems to have got them,” he said.

O’Sullivan, who has now made 12 centuries in his last eight matches, should have no problems motivating himself to face Williams.

There has been bad blood between the pair in the past, although it is nearly three years since they competed in a ranking event.

“I have nothing to prove,” added O’Sullivan, whose 4-1 advantage against Greene tonight was reduced to 4-3 before the next two frames were shared.

Greene could hardly believe he had a chance to force a decider. But his hopes of extending the match were soon dashed as O’Sullivan fired in century number four in just six minutes.

“The thought of playing Mark was the only thing that motivated me,” said O’Sullivan, a 2001 Irish Masters champion.