RONNIE O’SULLIVAN had tip issues on his return to the baize in China.
The Rocket – who turns 50 next month – scored breaks of 100, 119, 129 and then a match-winning 128 in the final frame of a 6-5 win over Allan Taylor at the International Championship in Nanjing.
But the perfectionist was not happy with his equipment in his first appearance in the country for three weeks.
O’Sullivan said: “My tip wasn’t great. I couldn’t get any reaction out of it. Certain shots I had no confidence on.
“I’m cueing good but making too many mistakes. I have to put that down to the tip.
“You can’t really hit every ball perfectly. But with that tip, you have to. If I can shape it down, get it a bit lower, maybe gain some more feeling, that would be great.”
However, O’Sullivan said he felt he was in a good moment with his snooker.
The seven-time world champion said: “I’m enjoying playing. It never feels like a grind when you are cueing well.
“I always think that if I am cueing good, then results don’t really matter.
“I’m enjoying playing more than I have done for maybe over a decade now.”
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He added: “I would have been disappointed if I lost today. Not because Allan didn’t deserve to win, just more that I’m enjoying playing.
“I think when I play alright the crowd appreciate the shots and the break building.
“When I click into gear that raises the temperature in there a little bit.”
The 49-year-old will next face Sanderson Lam on Monday at the South New City National Fitness Center.
O’Sullivan has never won the International Championship and could be in line to play against Jack Lisowski in the third round should he see off Lam.
Meanwhile, China’s Bai Yulu scored a 145 in frame seven of her 6-4 qualifying defeat to compatriot Wang Xinzhong.
This was the highest-ever break made by a female player in professional competition.
