Ronnie O'Sullivan faces major issue as new snooker sensation announces himself

Ronnie O'Sullivan has revealed alarming issues with his tip despite making it through the first round of the International Championship in China. The seven time World Champion beat Allan Taylor 6-5, having trailed by two frames earlier in the match.

Breaks of 100, 119 and 129 saw O'Sullivan come back from 4-2 behind to take the match and move into the next round of the tournament. He will mean Sanderson Lam in the second round.

Following the win, O'Sullivan revealed: "My tip wasn't great. I couldn't get any reaction out of it. Certain shots I had no confidence on.

"I'm cueing good but making too many mistakes. I have to put that down to the tip.

"You can't really hit every ball perfectly. But with that tip, you have to. If I can shape it down, get it a bit lower, maybe gain some more feeling, that would be great."

Despite the problems with his tip, O'Sullivan feels that he is in a good place. "I'm enjoying playing. It never feels like a grind when you are cueing well," he said.

"I always think that if I am cueing good, then results don't really matter.

"I'm enjoying playing more than I have done for maybe over a decade now."

He added: "I would have been disappointed if I lost today. Not because Allan didn't deserve to win, just more that I'm enjoying playing.

"I think when I play alright the crowd appreciate the shots and the break building.

"When I click into gear that raises the temperature in there a little bit."

O'Sullivan may be keeping a close eye on a story developing from the championship with 14-year-old Wang Xinzhong making it to the same stage. He overcame women's world champions Bai Yulu 6-4 in the pre-qualifier match.

The game saw Yulu make the highest ever break by a female player in a ranking event with 145 in the seventh frame. But Xinzhong came from 4-3 down to win the next three frames and decure his place in the first round.

In his second game of the day he breezed past Robbie Williams 6-1. The Chinese teenager will now take on Masters champion Shaun Murphy in the second round on Monday.