Snooker: O'sullivan Eyes Tiger Feats

Ronnie O'Sullivan cited Tiger Woods, Michael Schumacher and Roger Federer as role models after defeating David Gray 5-2 to reach the quarter-finals of the Royal London grand prix. "They've all got that aggressive mentality," he said.

Having made five centuries in 19 frames in his round-robin section, O'Sullivan made two more, 136 and 107, as he exploited virtually every reasonable chance. The 30-year-old has won 18 ranking titles but none since the Irish Masters in March 2005. He nevertheless wants to be "a prolific winner" - in his preferred style. "I can't be drawn into a long battle. I don't enjoy it and I take too much out of myself," he said signposting the tactics that opponents may feel offer them their best chance of unsettling him.

"I've lightened up. You can get too intense. You see people doing it and you copy them. I've got to get back to the rawness of it. That's what I got out of playing pool in the summer. I started to enjoy the game again. I realised that's why I started off playing the game. I don't need the money."

O'Sullivan's quarter-final opponent will be Neil Robertson. The Australian looked as if he might be taken to a deciding ninth frame by Andrew Norman until he scored 75 from 0-61 down for his 5-3 win and a place in the last eight of a ranking tournament for the sixth time.