Sparks fly with O'Sullivan again

Ronnie O'Sullivan and Andy Hicks were involved in more controversy during their second-round match at the World Snooker Championship at The Crucible, Sheffield, yesterday.

On the way to sharing the first session 4-4, O'Sullivan, who had made a rude gesture during his first-round clash with Stephen Maguire, picked up the last red in the third frame and conceded while Hicks was on a break of 40.

Hicks, who nearly came to blows with Aussie Quinten Hann at the end of their first-round match, responded in the next frame by conceding and walking out of the arena while O'Sullivan was still at the table.

The spat appeared to spur Hicks, who won the next two to take a 4-2 lead, but O'Sullivan claimed the last two frames to level the match, finishing with a century break.

The two resume their battle this morning. Earlier, Paul Hunter beat former world champion John Parrott 10-7. Hunter will now meet his close friend Matthew Stevens in the second round.