Rocket splutters through in NI Trophy

Last year’s runner-up Ronnie O’Sullivan avoided a shock defeat in his opening match at this year’s Northern Ireland Trophy tonight after being taken the distance by Leicester qualifier Tom Ford.

The Rocket trailed 4-2 at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall, but battled back to snatch a dramatic 5-4 final-frame victory at this year’s £200,500 event.

O’Sullivan was beaten 9-6 by Chinese ace Ding Junhui in last year’s showcase final, but was forced to make his experience count for an extended run on Irish soil.

“I played alright, but it was nothing special,” said O’Sullivan. “I was just hoping for a chance (at 4-2), so I was pleased to fall over the line.

“I didn’t pay much attention to him, if he cleared up he cleared up. If he didn’t I was hopeful I could take the rest of the balls.”

Ford had a golden chance in the deciding frame to cause another upset at this year’s tournament, with world champion and world number one John Higgins having crashed out earlier in the day.

But the world number 50 missed the final blue to a middle pocket and the Rocket did not waste his reprieve to go through. Ford had breaks of 48, 82 and 95, but O’Sullivan went through with runs of 84, 68, 70, 48 and 59.

He locks horns with Tiptree’s Ali Carter in the last-16 stage, where matches get under way tomorrow. Carter had breaks of 42, 136, 44, 50 and 50 in a 5-3 defeat of golden oldie Nigel Bond.

However, the 31-year-old admitted he has had little practice in the last fortnight since his 9-6 defeat to Hong Kong’s Marco Fu in the Royal London Watches Grand Prix.

“I’m not complaining. I’ve been doing some good stuff off the table, it doesn’t feel demanding for me,” added O’Sullivan.

“It probably is demanding, but I’m quite fit and I’m able to recover quick enough, so there’s no problem there.”

O’Sullivan was in Guangzhou last week to film a series of TV commercials and complete contracts that will boost his income by £500,000 over the next two years.

The Chigwell professional will put his name to a series of products including watches, clothing and snooker tables.

A spokesman for his Stirling-based management company 110sport, said: “Ronnie is such a massive attraction in snooker, especially in China where the game has taken off.

“As the most spectacular player in the game it’s not a surprise that companies want to align themselves with the biggest character in snooker.”