Fans’ favourite Ronnie O’Sullivan insists he is pleased with his form after winning his first match of the Players Championship on Monday night. The 43-year-old beat Barry Hawkins 6-4 on his return to action after missing the last two weeks of play.

O’Sullivan, 2.80 to win the tournament, has refused to play at venues he deems inadequate, such a leisure centres, and has missed out on the Snooker Shoot-Out and Indian Open as a result. He appeared to be straight back into his groove on Monday as he stormed into a 3-0 lead. Breaks of 106, 80 and 51 set him on course for victory before Hawkins responded with a break of 104.

Although “The Rocket” re-established his three-frame advantage with a break of 74, Hawkins threatened to turn the game on its head by winning three of the next four frames, with a 110-break the highlight in the ninth frame. However, O’Sullivan had enough in the tank to grind out a win with the aid of a break of 64, admitting afterwards that match practice is an issue. He told reporters after the match:

“I feel like I’m playing alright, I feel like I’m just lacking match practice. I feel well off the pace, it’s like giving someone a 70m start over the 100m at times.

“I was unlucky at 4-1 – next frame something else happened. The game’s the game, sometimes you got to wait around for something to come for you.

“I just refuse to play in dives and rubbish tournaments. I can’t play in leisure centres, if you’ve got to qualify there, leave it out. This is amazing, it’s a different class venue. It’s one of the only decent venues we play at anymore.”

O’Sullivan will now take on either Mark Selby or John Higgins in his next match at Preston Guild Hall.