Rocket blasts off 2007 campaign with comfortable win - 06/09/2007

Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-1 John Higgins

O'Sullivan's scores first
63-27 (O'Sullivan 38), 12-72 (Higgins 44), 80-37 (O'Sullivan 68, Higgins 37), 124-6 (O'Sullivan 124), 83-38 (O'Sullivan 30, 30, Higgins 30), 108-7 (O'Sullivan 83).

RONNIE O'Sullivan maintained his incredible unbeaten record in the PartyBets.com Premier League Snooker.

The Rocket, who has won the league for the last three seasons and has not lost a match since January 2005, cliched a victory against reigning World Champion John Higgins in front of a passionate crowd at Olympos Haywards Heath.

"To beat John Higgins you've had to play well as he doesn't give you any free chances, said O'Sullivan, who once again praised the format of the competition and the 25-second shot-clock rule.

"This lets you just play and if you get on a role you can do well. It suits me because everyone just has to play on instinct," added O'Sullivan.

A poor shot from Higgins left an easy red into the right middle pocket and that led to O'Sullivan clinching the first frame.

It became 1-1 when a break of 44 helped Higgins to a 60-point advantage. O'Sullivan returned to the table but made a poor positional effort and conceded the frame.

But 68 from the Essex man in the next restored his lead before he thrilled the packed crowd by making a century in only five minutes and 47 seconds.

He was on course for a total of 137 but, when on 124, sunk the pink but also watched as the cue ball disappeared down the pocket to end his run.

The fifth frame was an edgy encounter with the best breaks being 30 from both players but O'Sullivan did enough to secure the frame and make certain of the two points.

It was a miserable return to Premier League action for John Higgins, who was making his first appearance for four seasons. But the day got even worse for the Scot as a break of 83 rounded off a 5-1 victory for O'Sullivan, while Higgins' competition can only get better.