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Wind-assisted Rocket breezes into Northern Ireland quarter-finals

Ronnie O'Sullivan was victorious against Matthew Stevens at the Northern Ireland Open
Ronnie O'Sullivan was victorious against Matthew Stevens at the Northern Ireland Open

Ronnie O'Sullivan blew into the quarter-finals of the Northern Ireland Open with a 4-2 win over Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in Milton Keynes. 

The world champion admitted he was suffering from stomach problems after loudly breaking wind midway through his first match of the day against Matthew Stevens. 

O'Sullivan - nicknamed 'The Rocket' - appeared to apologise to Stevens before turning to embarrassed referee Ben Williams and joking: "Was that you?" 

Later, O'Sullivan told Eurosport: "I dropped my guts - I am taking full ownership of that. I have had stomach problems for a couple of months. 

"I did say 'was that you' to the referee but I am proud of that one." 

O'Sullivan looked uncomfortable for long periods of his second match against Un-Nooh, and after reeling off the last two frames he admitted: "I'm all right - I've just got lots of gas and lots of wind." 

Defending champion Judd Trump also booked his place in the last eight with a 4-1 win over Martin Gould.

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