Ronnie O'Sullivan says tonight's clash with Mark King in the Thailand Masters in Bangkok will be a real grudge match. The world champion has admitted that although he and King have known each other since their days in the junior ranks – they are not best friends.
"I've done things to Mark that he doesn't like and he's done things to me I don't like. I like him, but I don't like him. It's a love/hate relationship. It will be a grudge match. We've been rivals for as long as we can remember," said O'Sullivan, who empathised with local favourite James Wattana after he beat him 5-2 in the first round.
"James is such a good player, but I can see how he's struggling. It hurts me to see him like this and I've got empathy for him. I've been there when you can't do anything right and the game seems really difficult. I feel sorry for James and I like him as a person, but I just had to put that out of my mind and get on with the job."
Filed by Tom Grealis
