Five-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan ended Chinese star Ding Junhui's world championship dream on Sunday at a Crucible Theatre venue he described as a "morgue" due to the ban on spectators. The mercurial 44-year-old Englishman won an enthralling high-quality second-round encounter 13-10 to set up a quarter-final clash with three-time champion Mark Williams. O'Sullivan -- who will be bidding for a first semi-final appearance since losing to Mark Selby in the 2014 final -- said playing in front of an empty auditorium was an unrewarding experience."

There were meant to be 300 fans allowed in for each session but the pilot scheme was cancelled by the government on the first day of the championships because of new concerns over the coronavirus. "It is better with the fans, of course it is," O'Sullivan told the BBC. "It is like playing in a morgue out there. It feels like a village at the moment, the players are much more relaxed, for the top players it can be a nightmare." O'Sullivan admitted he needed to pull himself together as he battled to focus properly. "I am just glad I found a way to try and compete with my mind out there," he said. "For a while I have been going out and slapping the ball about having fun, not caring if I won or lost. "Deep down I do care but treat it like a bit of fun."