Ronnie O'Sullivan BEATS Stuart Bingham to reach Masters 2019 quarter-finals
RONNIE O'SULLIVAN beat Stuart Bingham 6-2 in the opening round of the Masters at Alexandra Palace this afternoon.
Ronnie O'Sullivan began his hunt for an eighth Masters title with a comfortable victory over 2015 world champion Stuart Bingham in London.
O'Sullivan - the most successful player in Masters history - lost a scrappy first frame before finding his rhythm with breaks of 59, 96, 134, 111 and 60 helping him ease 5-1 clear.
Bingham notched 71 to move to 5-2 behind before a 66 saw him force a re-spotted black after he had opened up with a fine 62.
The frame could have gone either way before a safety error by Bingham enabled O'Sullivan to sink a mid-range black to finish off the encounter.
O'Sullivan will now face Ryan Day in the quarter-finals after the Welshman's 6-5 win over John Higgins last night.
Despite turning 43 last month, O'Sullivan remains the player to beat in world snooker.
The Rocket has long been flirting with the notion of retiring but revealed ahead of the Masters that he doesn't plan on hanging his cue up any time soon.
“Whatever sport or business you’re in, you’re always looking around at your competitors,” he said.
“Is anyone doing anything better than you and can you learn from them? I don’t really see anybody tearing it up, really.
“It’s kind of giving me a little more belief that I can play a bit longer than I thought I could.
“I think 50 would be the minimum. Competing and still winning tournaments.
"Unless some really good players come up through the ranks, I could maybe go on until 55. So who knows?
“I’m never satisfied, I just want to be as good as I can be, if that makes sense.”
Masters Snooker: Ronnie O’Sullivan shows off cue ball control
Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Stuart Bingham recap
Monday, January 14
RESULT: Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-2 Stuart Bingham
First round - Best of 11 frames
O'Sullivan advances to face Day.