O’Sullivan vows to smack his BUM to keep his emotions in check at The Crucible

IF RONNIE O’SULLIVAN is seen furiously slapping his bum at the Crucible, there is an explanation for his madcap behaviour.

Today, the Rocket makes a record-breaking 31st appearance at the Crucible, overtaking the record he had shared with Steve Davis.

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Chinese debutant Pang Junxu will be his opponent – the two sessions start at 10am and 7pm – as he targets a record eighth crown come Monday May 1.

After last year’s first-round win over David Gilbert, O’Sullivan got in trouble with authorities for making a “lewd and offensive gesture” – one that rival Matthew Selt had mischievously shared on his Instagram feed.

It was the second time O’Sullivan had performed an inappropriate gesture inside in five months and he was fined £4,000.

Asked on the eve of Crucible how he would control his emotions this time, world No.1 O’Sullivan joked: “I have a new one now. I’m going to slap my bum. Slap my bum really hard.

“Because obviously out there, your emotions get high, sometimes you have to let it out.

“But then another player films it and puts it on social media, rings up World Snooker, constantly trying to find out: ‘Are you going to fine him?’

“Then obviously you have got 128 policemen watching me. Well now, I’ll just slap my bum really hard.

“That’s my thing. When you see me slapping my a*** you know I’m really p***ed off. My a*** is going to be sore by the end of Sheffield!”

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Defending champion O’Sullivan says he is in a “good mental place” after shrugging off a worrying elbow issue that was a result of an old gym injury.

Doctors recently gave him an injection to numb the pain and a course of antibiotics to avoid any potential infection.

It would be a major upset if O’Sullivan – who has also got his cue mended in recent weeks – lost to Pang even though the 23-year-old won their only meeting last year 3-1.

O’Sullivan has only gone out in the first round of the World Championship four times, but this evening he is looking to record his 200th Crucible century break since 1993.

O’Sullivan said: “I might look down to you guys at some point but there’s a resilience in there that just comes out.

“It’s been proven over the last 30 years so never count me out even if I’m down.

“I’ve been in prepare mode the whole of my life. That’s all I do.

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“I haven’t woken up last week and decided I want to be a professional snooker player. I made that decision when I was eight.

“I’m ready for anything this game has to throw at me. It’s just experience.

“I’m old enough to be pretty much everyone’s dad now.

“I was a kid when I first came here. I suppose you feel a little bit old.

“When you look around, that person there is about the same age as my son. It’s a bit scary.

“Pang is a very, very good player. He gave me a good hiding earlier in the season.

“I know the capabilities of him. He’s an unbelievable player.”