Ronnie O’Sullivan set for UK Championship despite injury

Ronnie O'Sullivan is set to begin his Coral UK Championship campaign on Thursday, despite suffering a nasty ankle injury.

O'Sullivan is targeting a fifth victory in the tournament, which he first won as a 17-year-old in 1993, but a mishap which running in Essex this week means he will not go into the York event in the best physical shape.

The 38-year-old posted a picture on Twitter of him resting up his left ankle, which was severely swollen, adding the note: “Might be one legged Snooker at the #UKChampionship on Thursday.”

However tournament organiser World Snooker has confirmed O’Sullivan “intends to play” his first-round match against Daniel Wells.

Record breaker

O’Sullivan, who turns 39 next month, last won the title in 2007 beating Stephen Maguire 10-2, but on the form shown during his Champion of Champions victory earlier this month he remains the man to beat.

An added incentive for the O’Sullivan is the opportunity to elapse Stephen Hendry’s record of career centuries, he currently has 764, one less than the Scot.

Former world champion Ken Doherty also plays on Thursday, up against world number 89 Mitchell Mann.