SPECIAL RON

Rocket blasts past Carter in perfect lift-off

- by SHANE MacDERMOTT

RONNIE O'SULLIVAN announced himself at this year’s World Championship - despite fears he could “implode” in the Crucible cauldron.

‘The Rocket, 49, admitted he was “scared” of playing on the game's grandest stage.

Tentative O'Sullivan was understandably rusty in the first session of his grudge clash with nemesis Ali Carter on Tuesday after a three-month hiatus from the baize.

But the sport's greatest-ever player showed the old magic is well and truly alive as he won all five frames yesterday, in just 67 minutes, to blow away Carter 10-4.

It was O’Sullivan’s first competitive match since he “lost the plot” and snapped his cue in anger in January.