Ronnie O'Sullivan turned on the style to beat Dave Harold 9-5 in the UK Championship.

But he immediately stated there was more to life than snooker and could possibly quit the game.

After the first session ended 4-4, O'Sullivan's critics were saying his bid for a third major trophy of the season was hanging in the balance.

On Tuesday O'Sullivan hardly let Harold have a look in at the Bournemouth tournament.

The 24-year-old world number four now tackles Australian Quinten Hann.

While O'Sullivan said he was looking forward to his latest meeting with the unpredictable Hann, he said he was also intent on spending more time away from the snooker table.

O'Sullivan is considering becoming a part-time player in order to pursue outside interests, because he believes he needs more mental stimulation than just potting balls.

"This game has been good to me. But at the age of 24 I've started to realise what I want out of life," he said.

"There are other things I want to do, and now I've got a clear head I am sure they will happen.

Pinch of salt

"I don't know what part snooker is going to play in my life. In three months, maybe six months I don't know what I'm going to be doing.

"I certainly don't need to practise every day - twice a week is enough for me. I've not won the world title playing seven days a week; maybe I'll win it playing just once.

"Whatever happens I don't see a long future in snooker for me."

O'Sullivan's comments will be treated with a pinch of salt by many, though.

He has threatened to quit the sport more than once before - the first time when he was just 18 after failing to defend the first of his two UK crowns.

Fiendish snooker

World number five Stephen Lee also reached the quarter-finals with a 9-7 victory over Tiptree's Brian Morgan.

Underdog Morgan fought back from 4-0 and 6-3 down to trail 8-7 but then crucially conceded 35 penalty points escaping from a fiendish snooker in frame 16 to let Lee off the hook.

Lee now plays five-time UK champion Stephen Hendry in the semi-final who defeated Michael Judge.