Ronnie O'Sullivan has surprised the snooker world by using two cues during his World Snooker Championship campaign, describing the decision as "a bit of a roll of the dice" and "a gamble." The seven-time world champion admitted he was nervous about the unconventional approach, fearing he could "look a bit silly" in front of the Crucible crowd. O'Sullivan is attempting to win a record-breaking eighth world title at The Crucible in Sheffield, which would extend his own legendary status in the sport.

The gamble appears to be paying off so far. O'Sullivan dispatched Chinese debutant He Guoqiang 10-2 in round one, barely breaking sweat in a dominant display that set up a blockbuster second-round clash with John Higgins. The decision to switch cues comes after a remarkable run of form that saw O'Sullivan make history at the World Open in China, hitting a 153 break - the highest in professional snooker history - before losing a thrilling final to Thailand's Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.

O'Sullivan had previously revealed he was "probably" not going to enter this year's Championship prior to his impressive World Open performance. The 49-year-old also pulled out of the Masters on medical grounds for the second consecutive year, raising questions about his commitment to the sport. Yet here he is, chasing an unprecedented eighth crown at the venue where he's enjoyed so much success, now attempting to rewrite the rulebook with his equipment choices.