Ronnie O'Sullivan in unusual 'Australian' meet at Players Championship

Shielding champion Ronnie O'Sullivan received an Australian intonation in the wake of achieving the quarter-finals of the Players Championship.

The 43-year-old Englishman claimed to be from down under after he brought down Barry Hawkins 6-4 in Preston.

"It's everything great. I ought to have been an impersonator," O'Sullivan revealed to BBC Lancashire Sport.

The world number three started with an opening-outline break of 106, the 995th century of his profession.

"I plunge in with a touch of Cockney, a touch of Australian and a touch of Scouse, you realize what I mean mate?" he said after the triumph.

Whenever asked if there was a specific explanation behind what good reason he was endeavoring to talk like an Australian, the five-time title holder from Essex stated: "No mate, I simply feel absolutely positive.

"When you talk Aussie, the Aussies are simply victors mate, you know? You must love a victor.

"Us English, we cherish a washout, so I thought I'm tired of being a failure, I'm going to talk like a victor, similar to the Aussies. Get the Ashes won, mate."

O'Sullivan, who will play Mark Selby or John Higgins next, drove 3-0 and 5-2 preceding Hawkins made a battle of it.

"It was an exceptionally extreme match and he made me buckle down for it.

"I'm simply so satisfied to overcome at last. It was an extreme match against an intense adversary."