British snooker player Tom Ford has questioned why anyone would want to come up against Ronnie O'Sullivan.
The world No.32 will come up against a top 16 player in the UK Championship draw on Thursday after an impressive performance in qualifying. The usual big hitters will be going for glory, none more so than O'Sullivan, who could win an eighth title with victory in York next week.
While some younger players may fancy a crack at the world No.1, Ford is having none of it and believes players should be looking to progress in the tournament instead. Asked who he would like to face, Ford told Metro : "I’m not really bothered, I’m not fussed, but nobody wants Ronnie do they?
"Why would you want to play Ronnie when you’re trying to earn a living? These people are deluded. Do you want to go and play Ronnie and get beat?
"Do you want to earn money and a living or just have the chance to say you’ve played Ronnie? I’d prefer to go and earn some money."
Another name in the draw for the UK Championship is legendary player Jimmy White, who rolled back the years with a 6-1 victory over Wales’s Dominic Dale.
White, 60, is currently ranked 89th in the world but has embarked on a stunning run of form, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of his 1992 victory over John Parrott.
White last reached the final 32 in the UK Championship – which starts on Saturday - back in 2010 where a thrilling 9-8 defeat to Hendry was arguably his last huge main-tour match.
He said: "When I won the UK Championship 30 years ago I never would have thought I would still be qualifying for it now. But we are very lucky as snooker players. It is not like football or boxing. If you have the passion to practice and a game in fairly good shape, you can go on…look at me!"
