SNOOKER: Parrott has hold over O'Sullivan

SNOOKER

John Parrott reinforced his hold over Ronnie O'Sullivan to reach the quarter-finals of the Benson and Hedges Irish Masters at Goffs, Co Kildare, yesterday.

Parrott, the former world champion, picked up his sixth victory in seven meetings with the 19-year-old British champion, cruising to a comfortable 5-2 success.

"I like playing Ronnie, he gives you bundles of chances," Parrott, the world No 5, said. "I never mind finding myself in the same half of the draw as he is, even though he has prodigious talent."

Parrott, who recorded breaks of 75, 50 and 41, admitted the match was "scrappy but good in parts''.

Parrott, who now plays Jimmy White tomorrow, felt O'Sullivan, the runner- up to James Wattana in the Thailand Open final on Saturday, was not helped by his 13-hour journey from Bangkok yesterday.

"He must have been very tired having to keep up with a schedule like that," Parrott said.

O'Sullivan, however, refused to blame his marathon journey. "I didn't feel tired and I have no excuses. I just didn't play well enough," he said.

"Some tournaments you get fired up for and feel really good, while at others it's difficult to jack yourself up and perform.

"Unfortunately you can't pick and choose where this will happen. I wanted to do well here and I'm disappointed not to have done so."

O'Sullivan, whose top break was only 35, added: "The way I played I wouldn't have beaten the world No 200."