Ronnie O’Sullivan

Five-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan claims winning 10 world titles “wouldn’t change his life much” and insists he plays the Crucible tournament “just to get away from home”.

O’Sullivan eased into the World Grand Prix quarter-finals late Wednesday after securing a 4-0 whitewash against world number 16 Robert Milkins in Llandudno.

The 39-year-old is gearing up for the World Championships in Sheffield next month, where he could move one step closer to Stephen Hendry’s record seven triumphs.

“I’m just enjoying getting the balance right and trying to enjoy every match, every tournament I play, every Crucible I play is a bonus these days,” O’Sullivan told ITV4, yesterday.

“I see snooker as like a portfolio of my life. I look forward to Sheffield as a break, more than anything, just to get away from home.

“It’s kind of serious but I’ve won it there five times and if I won it another five times it wouldn’t change my life much.

“You just need to enjoy the occasion there. I’ve achieved everything I want to achieve.”

O’Sullivan was in impressive form against Milkins and today faces 2006 world champion Graeme Dott in the last eight of the event in North Wales.

“I’ve just had a couple of days’ practice and I’m a bit sharper,” he said.

“This is a proper tournament. Most of the tournaments are... a bit like a car boot sale, a bit of a scrum really, the quality isn’t there.”

Dott came through a nail-biting match against Liang Wenbo, beating the Chinese left-hander 4-3 in the deciding frame.