O’Sullivan Given Golden Opportunity: Rocket Set for Crucial Clash with Muir After Unlikely Bye Into World Open Third Round
Ron his way Ronnie O’Sullivan boost as snooker legend granted bye into World Open third round if he beats Ross Muir.
It comes after the seven-time world champion received a bye past the second round of the tournament after second-round opponent Ishpreet Singh Chadha withdrew from the event.
That will see the winner of the round one match between O’Sullivan and Ross Muir progress straight into the last 32.
The two face off on Monday, with the Rocket involved in his first match since a 5-3 defeat to Xiao Guodong in the World Grand Prix last 16 in Hong Kong.
O’Sullivan has won the tournament once before in 2004, when it was called the Grand Prix, beating Ian McCulloh 9-5 in Preston.
But since then he has finished runner up three times, the most recent coming in 2010, to put him on the losing side in four finals at the World Open.
The winner of this year’s tournament will pocket £175,000 out of a total prize pool of £825,000.
It is the penultimate snooker tournament on the calendar before the World Championships at the Crucible in April, with the Tour Championship in Manchester the final competition before World Championship qualifiers take place.
