ROCKET FIRES UP HIS HOPES

RONNIE O'Sullivan announced himself to this year's World Championship despite fears he could "implode" in the Crucible cauldron.

- By Shane MacDermott

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 player weaved some of his old magic in winning all five frames yesterday in just 67 minutes to blow Carter away 10-4.

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