WORLD number three Ronnie O'Sullivan last night apologised to Alain Robidoux following his amazing outburst against the French Canadian at the World Championship in Sheffield last weekend.

The 20 year old from Essex accused Robidoux of sulking and "acting like a baby", and described his performance in the first round clash, which O'Sullivan won 10-3, as "rubbish".

Robidoux had criticised O'Sullivan for playing left handed, calling him "disrespectful" to his fellow professionals. Last night, though, O'Sullivan changed his tune and offered to patch up his differences with world number 20.

"I regret what I said, but it was in the heat of the moment," he said. "It annoyed me what Alain had said and I let rip when I shouldn't have done. I didn't know why he wouldn't shake my hand at the end. I didn't realise I hadn't shaken his before the game. It wasn't really me saying those things and I hope everyone can try and forget it."

Unfortunately for O'Sullivan, they have not. Tournament director Ann Yates has reported the matter to the board of the sport's governing body and now he faces possible disciplinary action at the end of the championship.

Earlier, O'Sullivan needed only 12 minutes to become the first player to reach the quarter finals. O'Sullivan resumed the final session against Tony Drago 12-4 ahead and quickly dashed off the necessary frame to beat his rival from Valetta.

Stephen Hendry will look back in anger, rather than pleasure, if he. completes a second round victory over stablemate Gary Wilkinson this afternoon. For the second match running Hendry has failed to impress, but still leads 10-6 and needs only three more frames to reach the quarter finals for the eighth year in a row.

Wilkinson bravely fought back from 6-3 down to level at 6-6. And he then threatened to take the lead for the first time. However, Hendry produced a vital last red to black clearance to make it 7-6, one of the turning points of the session.