Despite winning six world titles and becoming the greatest ever snooker champion in the history of the game, Ronnie O’Sullivan says he is still searching for the perfect cue action.

The reigning world champion had no trouble reaching the third round of the English Open after he comfortably beat Welshman Ryan Day 4-1 on Wednesday night.

In August during the World Championship, O’Sullivan amused many snooker experts and fans by insisting he was not happy with his cue action despite his incredible career as arguably snooker’s best ever showman. He went on to win the tournament and become snooker’s new all-time leader of ranking event titles.

Here’s what he said after his famous Crucible victory over Mark Selby in the semi-finals.

And he repeated his stance when quizzed about it on Eurosport just moments after completing his second round win in Milton Keynes.

“I’m still looking for a cue action, I think as snooker players that’s all we really do,” he said.

“We’re always trying to find a way to do try to hit solid shots and play in an efficient mode.”

O’Sullivan will meet two-times World Championship finalist Matthew Stevens in the third round as the first Home Nations event of the season begins to heat up.

The Rocket said having no crowd to play in front of – due to the coronavirus pandemic – is a “weird” experience.

O’Sullivan added: “It’s weird with no crowds, certain players need an atmosphere to get up for it. When you play a good shot you excite yourself and you don’t need the crowd to get you going.

“But when you are struggling you need a crowd to force you to find something. We’ve got to get used to it.”