By Phil Harlow BBC Sport at The Crucible

O'Sullivan courts trouble

Anyone who has ever tried to give up smoking will be able to sympathise with Ronnie O'Sullivan's slightly fractious mood after his win over Stephen Maguire.

O'Sullivan has recently quit the evil weed, and that can turn even the most mild-mannered soul somewhat short-tempered.

And the last thing you need is constant reminders of your former nicotine habit.

So when you're playing in a snooker tournament sponsored by one of the world's biggest tobacco companies, things are bound to get on your nerves.

O'Sullivan asked for the ashtray to be removed when he sat down at the table for the post-match press conference.

And when asked a jocular question about his giving up smoking emerged, O'Sullivan snapped.

"You're not going to start asking me silly questions are you? I'm not in the mood for it, to be honest," he said.

"I'm not in a bad mood - I just don't want to answer silly questions about giving up smoking."

That apart, O'Sullivan was in great form at the press conference, coming up with a bright idea for a new tournament.

The Rocket, regarded as the most entertaining and fluent player around, was impressed with Maguire's similarly attacking philosophy but could not conceal his displeasure with some of the sport's more - how can we put this? - methodical players.

"Snooker's in great shape with players like Stephen, Ali Carter, Ryan Day and Ding Junhui coming through," said O'Sullivan.

"It would be great to have all the exciting players in one tournament, leave the ones who aren't so exciting to play in their own tournament and just invite the players who like to play snooker.

"Some players just want to win at all costs and not express themselves and play the beautiful game that it is."

Without wanting to turn this into a copy of 'The Secret Diary of Ronnie O'Sullivan aged 28 �,' O'Sullivan offered yet more entertainment as he revealed his less than comprehensive preparations for the next round.

Following on from his diatribe against negative play, O'Sullivan expounded on the style of his next opponent.

"My next game I'll be playing the complete opposite (of Maguire): Anthony Hamilton or Steve Davis," said O'Sullivan.

"It's like pulling teeth watching those two sometimes, so it's going to be a total different thing but if I want to win then I'll have to find a way of winning."

There followed a question about Andy Hicks' spat with Quinten Hann on Sunday. And the penny dropped.

"Oh sugar, I thought I was playing Davis or Hamilton!"

Maguire, who impressed The Crucible crowd with an assured debut including three centuries, certainly doesn't lack for confidence.

The Scot won warm praise from O'Sullivan for his performance.

"Ronnie said to me as he shook my hand 'you'll win this one day' and I just said 'I know,' said Maguire with a smile.

"I think I'll win it in a couple of years but I've learned not to draw Ronnie in the first round if I can help it!"

Steve Davis is almost part of the furniture at The Crucible and it's probably fair to say that a chest of drawers could not have got off to much of a slower start against Anthony Hamilton.

After a 43-minute opening frame, the pair took more than 12 minutes to pot a ball in the second.

For fans and journalists alike, a long night stretched out ahead.

But as if by magic the six-time champion rolled back the years to reel off brilliant back-to-back centuries in the eighth and ninth frames to the delight - and surprise - of all those watching.