Six-time world snooker champion Ronnie O'Sullivan took to the baize wearing pink nail varnish last night to raise breast cancer awareness.
'The Rocket' recovered from two sets down down to win his opening match 4-2 against France's Brian Ochoiski in Milton Keynes.
World number two O'Sullivan says he was asked by a friend if he would pose for a photo with the nail varnish to raise awareness, but went one better and played his first round match with it on instead.
The move came about in tandem with the Future Dreams charity in the UK, who raise vital funds for breast cancer research, awareness and support.
Let’s nail breast cancer @futuredreamss. I’ll be getting my pink nails out tonight in support of Breast cancer. Please donate £5 if you can text LNBC5 to 70500 who is going to join me? pic.twitter.com/ecOIFa8was
— Ronnie O'Sullivan (@ronnieo147) October 12, 2020
O'Sullivan has been asking people to donate via his social media accounts, and said he hoped it would help in some small way.
"A friend asked if I would wear it and I thought ‘why not’? I actually really like it. Anything to help the needy and the vulnerable out. It’s good to get behind great causes and great charities.
"It’s something I have never been involved with before, but I thought it was a great idea. If it helps create awareness for breast cancer that can only be a positive thing."
He went on to say he may continue to sport the nails even after Breast Cancer Awareness Month has ended, and called on other men to do the same.
"I actually really like it - I think it's going to be here to stay even after Breast Cancer awareness month has gone. 100% for the rest of the week, maybe for the rest of my life. It's really nice, I get why women paint their nails now!
Thank you @ronnieo147. It's great to see someone with a high profile using it for a good cause. Let's Nail Breast Cancer 💅#breastcancerawarenessmonth #breastcancerawareness. #LNBC #LNBCboys @futuredreamss pic.twitter.com/Pa3Ip1Eko0
— Andrew Bloch (@AndrewBloch) October 12, 2020
"I hope other guys show some bottle and do it as well to get the cause some deserved publicity. I will have them now while I am still in this event."
O'Sullivan, who won the event in 2017, will next take on either Ryan Day or Mark Lloyd in round two on Wednesday.
Elsewhere in the opening round at the Home Nations series event, there was disappointment for Irish teenager Aaron Hill, who beat O'Sullivan at the European Masters last month.
The 18-year-old from Cork lost 4-2 against Chinese star Chang Binyu. Antrim's Mark Allen progressed with a 4-2 win against Mark King.
1997 world champion Ken Doherty is in action from 11.30 AM this morning against China's Xu Si, with Eurosport showing the top matches.
Mark Selby, who won the European Masters last month, is the defending English Open champion, having beaten David Gilbert 9-1 in a dominant final display last season.
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