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Defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan believes that the pressure is off him as he goes in search of a fifth triumph at the World Snooker Championship.
O'Sullivan gets the action underway at The Crucible in Sheffield when he faces Marcus Campbell in the first round on Saturday, with The Rocket returning to the table after a self-imposed exile from the game.
However, far from feeling that he has everything to prove, O'Sullivan thinks that the pressure will be on his more match-hardened rivals.
O'Sullivan told BBC Radio 5 Live: "My best achievement was winning the world title last year. When everyone fancies you to win it and you do win it, that's the mark of a great champion.
"This year no-one expects me to do much, so in some ways I have nothing to lose. It's easy to do it when you've got nothing to lose.
"Winning it when you've got everything to lose is more impressive than doing it as an underdog."
O'Sullivan is6.50to win a fifth world title and is3.50to reach the final, while he is1.14to safely get past Campbell in the first round.
Meanwhile, Peter Ebdon, who has been practicing with O'Sullivan in the lead-up to the world championship, has no doubt that the four-time champion will be tough to beat.
He added: "He's in top form and he will take some beating. I think you'll see Ronnie O'Sullivan playing better snooker than he played last year."
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