Five-time world snooker champion Ronnie O'Sullivan has vowed to curb his enthusiasm after taking less than half an hour on Monday night to book his place in the World Snooker Championship quarter-final.

O'Sullivan, resuming with a 12-4 overnight lead against Matthew Stevens in round two, lost the opening frame of the evening.

But Stevens was suffering from neck pain and the Rocket quickly put him out of his misery with a 77 break enough to get over the line.

There was little time for O'Sullivan to show any repeat of the antics over the last week that have led to him playing in his socks, risk damaging his cue and incur a warning from the referee over his conduct.

But the former world No1 says he does not plan these things and hopes not to get carried away again as the week continues.

“My mental skills were good in the second session. Although I got frustrated a few times I still was able to get back into a place where I felt I could concentrate on the match,” said O'Sullivan.

“I wasn't happy with losing my temper at times, but it was heat of the moment stuff. It shows just how much I wanted to win and play well.

“I hate losing. It's my in my make-up. Even with cooking and running I've always tried to excel to be the best I can be.

“I'm never going to be able to get rid of that part of me. Whatever I do that's how I will approach things.

“I wish I could be one of these guys who enjoyed losing, says 'it's just nice to be here', but I'm not that type of character. It's probably what has been the driving force behind a lot of my successes – I've had that determination and persistence to want to be the best. It comes at a price sometimes.

“I don't know anyone who has been successful that says they enjoy losing or playing below par, but I'm better at handling that now and not using up too much energy to dwell on mistakes as much as I used to.”

Standing in O'Sullivan's way of a place in the semi-final for the fourth year in a row at the Crucible is fellow Essex potter Stuart Bingham.

Bingham, who lies tenth in the world rankings, has beaten Robbie Williams and former champion Graeme Dott to reach the quarter-final.

And O'Sullivan expects a testing match from the man who eliminated him from the 2013 UK Championship at the quarter-final stage, believing Bingham is now a man who belongs in the latter stages of major tournaments.

“Stuart plays so much now that even when he is playing at the Crucible it is like he is playing a practice match,” added O'Sullivan.

“It will be a really tough game. He really has improved, in terms of his belief. He plays a much more aggressive game in tournaments now, whereas before he might have been a little passive. He's a tournament player.”

O'Sullivan's quarter-final clash begins at 2.30pm this afternoon.

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