Ronnie strolls into next round of World Championships

Ronnie O’Sullivan moved a first step nearer the sixth world title that would give him equal footing with Steve Davis and Ray Reardon after a no-frills opening win against Robin Hull at the Crucible.

Nothing about Hull, Finland’s only professional, suggested he would give O’Sullivan a test. He may have beaten Peter Ebdon, a former nemesis of O’Sullivan, in the final qualifying round to earn a shot at the Dafabet World Championship title holder, but Ebdon is not remotely the force he was when his tenacity could grind down the best.