Ronnie O’Sullivan warns rivals he ‘loves it’ when he’s criticised one year on from Hossein Vafaei comments

Ronnie O’Sullivan has warned his rivals to not “rattle my cage” after he battled his way into the second round of the World Championship. O’Sullivan revealed he was carrying a bug during his 10-7 victory over Pang Junxu and will face Ding Junhui or Hossein Vafaei on Friday. Ad Vafaei called on The Rocket to retire last year and stated he was “not good for the game”, before O’Sullivan went on to lift a seventh Crucible Crown.

World Championship'I've been absolutely hanging all day' — Ill O’Sullivan avoids minor scare to see off PangAN HOUR AGO When reminded in the Eurosport studio that he could face the Iranian in the last 16, O’Sullivan asked: “What did he say about me, I can’t remember?” Eurosport expert Alan McManus responded: “I think he said you should retire.” O’Sullivan replied: “Has he been saying much about me this year? I think he’s learned to be quiet. “Don’t rattle my cage. I love it when they call me out, I love it when they give me stick.

I just love it. “It turns me on. I get off on it.

I need something to find so I’m hoping someone says something and hopefully I get better so I can have a reason to perform. “They are not going to say anything now are they because they probably realised it’s not a good tactic to play. We’ll see, but we’ll have some fun.” O’Sullivan, who is looking to break Stephen Hendry’s modern-era record of seven world titles, says he will rest up as much as possible before returning to the Crucible on Friday.