O'Sullivan Sorry for China Gaffe

Ronnie O'Sullivan, competing for the first time since a series of embarrassing comments at the China Open which had wide coverage on the internet, offered an apology yesterday after his 10-5 victory over the Chinese qualifier Liu Chuang at the world championship in Sheffield.

"I didn't realise the microphones and cameras were on. I was just having a joke with an individual. There was no intention to insult the Chinese people or the Chinese media," he said. "I didn't know what had happened until I got home. I immediately got in touch with my Chinese contacts and went on China TV to explain.

"I don't want to be known as somebody who causes trouble. I don't think it's really like that but if I get a letter from any Chinese sponsor saying they don't want me, I'll withdraw if I have offended them. I don't want to do anything to damage snooker. I'd rather not have had to sort this out before the championship. It's been hard these last three weeks to concentrate on my game." Disciplinary action pends for O'Sullivan although a fine seems much likelier than suspension.

The first two frames against Liu, with breaks of 76 and 87, were O'Sullivan's best in a patchy display he characterized as "not terrible". From 3-0 he led only 5-4 overnight before coming through for the loss of only one further frame yesterday.

Liu, 17, is one of five Chinese on the circuit who share a house in Sheffield so that they can practice daily at the facility at the English Institute of Sport. "Mechanically they're all perfect," said O'Sullivan, adding that Liu "just needs more experience".