Ronnie O’Sullivan reveals illness as he avoids minor scare to see off Pang Junxu at World Snooker Championship

Ronnie O’Sullivan is through to the last 16 of the World Snooker Championship after he battled illness to beat Pang Junxu. O’Sullivan, who is looking to win a record-breaking eighth Crucible crown, looked out of sorts throughout the match and confirmed he was carrying a "bug" on the opening day at the Crucible. He will be back in action on Friday against Ding Junhui or Hossein Vafaei.

An ill Ronnie O’Sullivan avoided a minor scare to beat Pang Junxu 10-7 and reach the second round of the World Championship.

O’Sullivan was far from his best with numerous errors throughout the day but still managed to resist a late comeback from Pang to get over the line and revealed he has been carrying a "bug" so was relieved to win.

The Rocket, who is looking to break Stephen Hendry’s record of seven Crucible titles, will play Ding Junhui or Hossein Vafaei in the last 16 on Friday.

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“I’m relieved it’s over," said O'Sullivan in the Eurosport studio. "I’ve got a bug so I’ve been absolutely hanging all day – legs, limbs, everything has gone – just hanging in there.

“I was so desperate just to get over the line. It’s a horrible feeling. I just wanted to see if I can get through, have a few days rest but I might just hang around the Crucible and give everyone my bug!

“I was so tired that I feel relaxed. It’s mad. I just can’t wait to get to my bed. I’m struggling.”

Most of the frames followed the same pattern of O’Sullivan making a mistake, before Pang struggled to make an impact, then the defending champion found a way to steal the frame.

Having led 5-0, Pang made a mini fight-back at the end of the first session to trail 6-3 going into the evening.

However, O’Sullivan made a break of 82 and won a key safety battle in the 11th frame to take an 8-3 lead.

It looked like he was going to win without a mid-session interval, until he missed a mid-distance red to the bottom-right pocket in the next frame.

With one red left on the table, and just five points behind his opponent, Pang went for what appeared to be a safety shot but fluked the red into the bottom left corner and went on to win the frame.

O’Sullivan responded with breaks of 31 and 33 to restore his five-frame advantage but still looked out of sorts following the interval, as Pang made a 78 to trail 9-5.

'Unspectacular but effective' - O'Sullivan takes 8-3 lead over Pang

Video credit: TNT Sports

Momentum was now on the world No. 35’s side as he impressively won the next two frames with breaks of 70 and 73 with the pressure now seriously ramping up on O’Sullivan.

Pang went for a difficult long red at the start of the 17th frame and missed it, leaving O’Sullivan with a big chance to seal the match.

He took it with his best showing of the night with a rapid break of 81 to advance into round two.

Watch O'Sullivan get over the line with break of 81 to beat Pang

Video credit: TNT Sports

As has become World Championship tradition, only the defending champion concludes their match on the opening day, so five other matches got underway on Saturday.

Neil Robertson fended off a sudden resurgence from Wu Yize to lead 6-3, while Luca Brecel leads Ricky Walden by the same scoreline, as does Stuart Bingham from David Gilbert.

Qualifier Jak Jones is 5-4 ahead of Ali Carter after a tight first session and will finish their match on Sunday night.

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