He may have five world titles already under his belt but snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan is keen to enjoy the lighter side of snooker.

The Rocket is through to the Northern Ireland Open last-16 after easing past Tom Ford 4-0, all set for his first showdown with Zhou Yuelong for a place in the last eight.

But that doesn’t mean O’Sullivan is taking everything too seriously.

Just three games stand in his way of another ranking tournament but, with form continuing to hit sky-high levels, the 42-year-old is keen to play with a smile on his face.

“It’s about trying to enjoy every match, in the second round I just went for everything because I felt I had to get something going,” he said.

“Against Tom I had a few butterflies beforehand so I knew I was going to be involved in a match. Each match provides a different situation.

“The key for me at this stage of my career is to do whatever I need to do to enjoy the match. That’s much more important than winning.

“If you take every game seriously, you end up in an asylum! It’s that type of game, it can drive you crazy at times.

“If you can find the funny side of things, lighten up a bit and take it with a bit of fun, the more longevity you’ll have.”

Watch the Northern Ireland Open live on Eurosport and Eurosport Player, with analysis from Ronnie O’Sullivan, Jimmy White and Neal Foulds