Snooker: O'sullivan Quickly Takes His Leave

Ronnie O'Sullivan, who had said he was "90% certain" not to play this season after losing in the world championship quarter-finals, turned up for the Northern Ireland Trophy but was quickly on the way home from the Waterfront Hall last night.

O'Sullivan, the world No1, made a series of unforced errors in losing 4-2 to the Belfast-born Joe Swail, who finished off the match with breaks of 138 and 91.

"I didn't really play but I'll keep turning up and see what happens," said O'Sullivan, who won five titles last season. "I wouldn't say my heart isn't in it but there aren't many tournaments this season and it's difficult for me to get up for it."

Jimmy White, starting his 26th season as a professional, was beaten 4-2 by Neil Robertson, an Australian left-hander who had not been born when in 1981 the Londoner won the last major tournament staged here.

Robertson, 23, had not had the best preparation after falling victim to a random assault in a Romford nightclub this month which prevented him practising for five days.

"I was having a nice night out with a few friends and this guy just came up and hit me in the head for no reason," said Robertson, the world No28 and a wild card. "I woke up the next morning with a massive bruise, turned on the television and watched Australia lose by two runs at Edgbaston. It wasn't the happiest 12 hours of my life."

Mark Allen, 19, a wild card from Antrim who humbled Steve Davis 4-0 on Wednesday, claimed another top scalp in defeating John Higgins, the 1998 world champion, 4-1.

Stephen Maguire, the world No3, edged out Mark Williams 4-3, Stephen Hendry defeated Ding Jun Hui, the 18-year-old China Open champion, 4-2 and Matthew Stevens had a 4-1 win over Ken Doherty.