Updated at 20.27
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN has turned to intermittent fasting to help his bid for a record eighth world snooker title.
The 48-year-old cruised into the quarter-finals with a 13-7 victory over Ryan Day on Monday and hailed the impact his diet change has had on his energy levels during the marathon 17-day tournament in Sheffield.
O’Sullivan revealed he will go 16 or 17 hours without eating before refuelling before matches.
“It feels great, I feel good. I’m 48 and I feel energised. If I eat too much I get really sluggish,” said O’Sullivan, who has also credited his love of running for keeping him both mentally and physically sharp.
“What I do is I try to eat right. I’m intermittent fasting for this tournament because it gives me more energy,”
“There are certain things I do and it doesn’t necessarily mean I’m going to win, I just need every little advantage I can get at this stage.
“This is a tournament of endurance, stamina and concentration. For me, intermittent fasting gives me a bit more energy.”
O’Sullivan will face either Jack Lisowski or Stuart Bingham in the last eight.
Meanwhile, Kyren Wilson stormed into the next round with a 13-6 victory over Joe O’Connor.
Wilson also took a 10-6 lead into the final session of his second-round match and won a scrappy first frame to move within two of the quarter-finals.
Another long frame followed as O’Connor looked to peg his opponent back, but there was nothing he could do to stop Wilson from going 12-6 in front.
And Wilson got over the line in the next frame to clinch a straightforward win.
Additional reporting by Press Association