Video: O’Sullivan through three pairs of shoes and into second round
The title favourite and five-time former champion was a 10-3 winner against Craig Steadman, a 32-year-old from Manchester who endured a painful Crucible debut.
O’Sullivan was sore physically rather than mentally after earning his last-16 place, having started the match in a new pair of dress shoes which he discarded in favour of briefly playing just in his socks.
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Hide AdWhen O’Sullivan was told by referee Brendan Moore he was breaching rules surrounding attire, he turned first to the audience to beg for a pair of smart size eight shoes, before accepting tournament director Mike Ganley’s offer of his own footwear.
It is understood O’Sullivan could face a small punishment, in the region of £250, for being in breach of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association’s dress code, which stipulates dress and appearance must be “smart and appropriate for a professional snooker or billiards player”.
O’Sullivan dug out a comfortable but old pair of dress shoes for Wednesday’s play, as he converted a 7-2 overnight lead into victory.
Asked about the pair in which he began the match, O’Sullivan said: “Bad, bad move. When I was buying them I was thinking, ‘these don’t look right’.
“But I’m not a fashion kind of guy.
“If any top shoemakers feel like they want to come and sort me out with a new pair of shoes, send your boys down. I’m not going to say no.
“I’d appreciate a new pair and I need some help.”