The world rankings will be replaced by a prize money list from next season and O'Sullivan hopes good performances at the lucrative major championships will enable him to "play the system" and sit out some smaller events.

going for a run - fresh air away from snooker arena

— Ronnie O'Sullivan (@ronnieo147) December 2, 2013

He said: "My goal is to get enough prize money so I can take another break from snooker, to be honest with you.

"It's now a prize money list and getting through here's done me well so maybe I can take a few more months out, because I enjoyed my time out so much last time. Just play the system, really.

"I'm not too bothered about my form. I'm just trying to keep my top-64 place.

"I've got £9,000 so far (here) and if I can win a few more matches it'll bounce it up a little bit more and then I don't have to play in so many events.

"I can have a holiday, sit at home and chill again, which is great."

The 'Rocket' had to come from behind twice before the interval against Adam Duffy and, although he eventually won 6-3, he looked far from his fluent best.

His erratic performance was summed up by an extraordinary sixth frame which ended when, needing a snooker and attempting to clear the pink from the jaws of a pocket, O'Sullivan smashed it off the table and also went in-off for the fourth time in the frame.

On the next table, Judd Trump enjoyed a more comfortable win against Xiao Guodong in a match of exceptional quality.

The first three frames were won by century breaks and Xiao added another, his second run of 106, later in the game.

They were the only two frames the Chinese player won, though, as the 2011 winner finished proceedings in even grander style with a 133 clearance.

The Bristolian said: "There were a lot of centuries in that game. The table played well and my best game always comes out in front of the big crowd.

"Whether they're here for me or Ronnie, I always pull it out for the big crowd."

Three-time champion John Higgins labelled his form "soul-destroying" and "continually s***" despite beating fellow Scot Jamie Burnett 6-4.

A 92 in the penultimate frame was Higgins' only break of note, but he found enough resolve to outlast Burnett.

Shaun Murphy briefly fell behind in his third-round match with Noppon Saengkham but ultimately came through 6-2 with breaks of 105, 69, 61 and 56.

He will face Barry Hawkins, who beat Gary Wilson 6-4 in the morning session.

Stuart Bingham reached the last 16 with a 6-2 win over Anthony McGill while Joe Perry beat Scott Donaldson 6-3, as Sunday's Scottish charge petered out somewhat.

Graeme Dott bucked that trend with a 6-3 win over Ali Carter to steal a march in the race for a qualifying spot for next month's Masters. A 99 break in frame three was the highlight.

Stephen Maguire came through his second successive final-frame decider, seeing off Liang Wenbo in the same fashion as he accounted for Luca Brecel.

O'Sullivan was joined in qualifying from round two by Neil Robertson, Mark Selby and amateur sensation Mitchell Travis.

World number one Neil Robertson made short work of his second-round match, beating Indian Open semi-finalist Robbie Williams 6-1 to set up a clash with China's Li Hang.

The Australian made breaks of 64, 53, 119 and 90 in a comfortable win and said: "I got through nice and quick, that was my goal.

"He pegged a frame back but I made 90 and 100 the last two, so I'm happy to get through."

Selby came from 3-1 down for the second game in succession to beat China's Tian Pengfei 6-3.

Tian made 64 in frame two and 49 to steal the frame before the interval by a point but Selby reeled off five frames in a row, helped by breaks of 116, 58 and 59.

Travis, from Sheffield, followed up his opening upset of world number six Marco Fu with a 6-4 second- round win over Norway's Kurt Maflin.

He said: "I'm playing in the second biggest tournament in the snooker calendar, and I'm into the last 32.

"Who would have thought that, an amateur, through to the last 32, beating two top-class players?"