O'Sullivan is without a world ranking title since the 2005 Irish Masters

A break of 109 put O'Sullivan 3-1 up against Ian McCulloch and a 64 clearance gave him the next frame on the black as he eased to a 5-1 win.

"I'm not being big-headed but I can win events playing at 60%," he said. "I can cover up problems with instinctive snooker but that's no good to me.

"Over the next 18 months I'm going to rip my game apart."

O'Sullivan overhauled his game after he lost to David Gray in the first round of the 2000 World Championship.

"I can't accept carrying on playing so badly," he said.

"Unless I reach the standard I know I'm capable of I just don't enjoy the game at all. I don't know about other players but titles, trophies and money mean nothing to me.

606 DEBATE: Give your views on Ronnie's comments

"This is something that's got to be done and that's why I'm working with someone to get it done. If I mess my game up and can't pot a ball so be it. In my mind I've got nothing to lose.

"I need to be more machine-like and that's why I'm concentrating on my technique. I want something to fall back on if things go wrong."