Snooker: O'Sullivan shapes up for Sheffield

Ronnie O'Sullivan was looking forward to taking on the world after defeating James Wattana 9-4 to win the British Open in Plymouth last night. 'I felt I really bullied him,' the 18-year-old Essex player said. He is quoted at 6-1 to become the youngest winner of the World Championship in Sheffield in May.

'I feel I've got a great chance at Sheffield,' he said. His victory over the Thai, in three hours 37 minutes, means he is one of the few players to have won the British and UK titles in the same season. He never looked in trouble after taking an early 3-0 lead.

Wattana, the world No 5, looked a shadow of the player who won last month's Thailand Open event in Bangkok, where he thrashed O'Sullivan 5-0.

BRITISH OPEN (Plymouth) Final: R O'Sullivan (Eng) bt J Wattana (Thai) 9-4. Frame scores (O'Sullivan first): 76-20 73-42 59-25 38-74

70-41 112-4 18-103 91-33 29-56 69-14 58-38

16-74 70-10.