Snooker: O'Sullivan on the trail

RONNIE O'SULLIVAN will need to display resilience to match his talent today when he resumes against John Parrott at the Embassy World Championship in Sheffield. The 18- year-old trails the No 2 seed 5-3 in their best-of-25 frame second-round match.

Parrott made a strong start to the match allowing the young pretender only six points in a 20-minute opening frame. But Parrott gave O'Sullivan the opportunity to reply immediately when he potted red and blue together and a rapid 86 brought the scores level.

That was the only time O'Sullivan enjoyed parity, although he had a chance to end the day all square when he led 51-0 in the eighth frame. But caution proved his undoing. In opting for safety he let Parrott back into the frame and he went on to win 66-51.

John Morgan came from 9-6 down to defeat Martin Clark in the first round and he will now meet James Wattana, of Thailand, in the last 16.

Results, Sporting Digest, page 39