UK Championship: Ronnie O'Sullivan thrashes Zhou Yuelong to cruise into fourth round

Six-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan became the first man to reach round four of the UK Championship with a 6-0 destruction of China's Zhou Yuelong.

O'Sullivan seemed unaffected by the controversy surrounding his threats to form a breakaway Champions League-style series of events, scoring five breaks of more than 60.

The 42-year-old scored 66, 60 and 68 on his way to a 4-0 mid-session lead.

And he rounded off a stylish win with an 89 and a 69.

O'Sullivan will face either Marco Fu or Jack Lisowski in the last 16.

'The Rocket' said he was pleased with how he played but did not care who he faced in round four at the York Barbican.

He added: "I felt for my opponent because it can be hard out there. He is capable of wonderful things and I made a few mistakes but he didn't take advantage of them."

World number 11 Kyren Wilson, a 6-2 third-round winner over Chinese teenager Yan Bingtao, had little trouble in reaching the last 16 for the first time in his career.

"He is a very good young player and can be very dangerous," said Wilson who plays Gary Wilson or Barry Hawkins in round four.

"I played very well and didn't give him many chances."

Also through to round four are China's Lu Ning, who overcame world number 13 Luca Brecel 6-4, while Tom Ford from Leicester beat Alan McManus, the second-round conqueror of three-time UK champion John Higgins, 6-3.

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