Scottish Open: Ronnie O’Sullivan misses fastest TV century break by three seconds
Ronnie O’Sullivan misses out on the fastest televised century break by just three seconds as he whizzes through the first round…
Ronnie O’Sullivan narrowly missed out on the fastest televised century break as he whizzed through the first round at the Scottish Open.
During a 4-0 victory over China’s Bai Langning, the world number one reached three figures in just three minutes and 34 seconds.
It falls three seconds shy of Tony Drago’s mark from 1996.
It was originally thought to be a new record but World Snooker reviewed the footage and set the time back.
“I just felt like I needed to speed up a bit and try and enjoy it,” O’Sullivan told Eurosport after averaging 11.4 seconds a shot throughout a brief contest.
“I just tried to get it done as quickly as I could – win or lose. In and out, quickly as you can. I wasn’t timing it myself, but it seemed quick.”
Defending champion Luca Brecel was an early casualty in Edinburgh, losing 4-3 to Fraser Patrick.
Patrick, from Glasgow, is ranked 75 places below the Belgian world number 11.
Former world champion Stuart Bingham also suffered a shock defeat, beaten 4-3 by Zak Surety.
John Higgins, three times a beaten finalist – including in 2021 – defeated Anthony Hamilton 4-2 as Shaun Murphy hit three centuries during a 4-0 demolition of Lei Peifan.
Mark Selby, champion in 2019 and 2020, beat Aaron Hill 4-2, while Judd Trump, Neil Robertson, Mark Allen and Mark Williams progressed comfortably.
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