More than 1,800 watched O’Sullivan defeat Northern Ireland’s Joe Swail 6-3 last night and his performance, containing two century breaks, did not disappoint the fans.

He lost to White in last year’s event and the world champion promises ‘‘war’’ when they clash again.

‘‘I love Jimmy to bits,’’ said O’Sullivan. ‘‘But if I see him on Friday before the game I won’t be talking to him.

‘‘And he can take that any way he wants. I’m here to win the tournament so that’s the best way for me.

‘‘I’m making it blatantly clear this is for real on Friday.’’

O’Sullivan has even sold more tickets than White this year but the 25-year-old believes he will not have the majority of support.

‘‘Jimmy will have more than me. I’m the one to be shot down. It’s happened to Steve Davis, John Higgins and Stephen Hendry.

‘‘The English like to see the favourites lose, but I would much rather be in that position because that means you are winning.

‘‘I don’t want to be a flash in the pan. I want to be one of those players the public get fed up of seeing picking up trophies.

‘‘My trophy cabinet is big but I want to fill it with even more trophies. I’ve got a family to support and I want my bank balance to be filled as well,’’ added O’Sullivan, favourite for the £190,000 (€310,000) first prize on Sunday night. O’Sullivan could add another £21,000 (€30,000) if no one improves his 138 clearance as the highest of the event so far.

He also added runs of 87, 50, 87, 77 and 108 to bring the second round to a close.

There are unlikely to be as many fireworks in today’s opening quarter-finals.

Dubliner Fergal O’Brien needed four hours to beat Steve Davis 6-5 in the first round and he followed up by knocking out countryman Ken Doherty. Opposing O’Brien will be world number 12 Alan McManus from Glasgow.

‘‘Alan and I have played four times and he has won the lot,’’ admits the former British Open champion.

‘‘But if you want to improve that kind of record you’ve got to go out and play him. It’s no good hiding your head in the sand.’’

And O’Brien could clinch a repeat of the 2001 Masters final with Paul Hunter if he beats McManus and the defending champion knocks out Peter Ebdon this evening.

Ebdon was involved in the slowest match of the week on Tuesday night against Scot Graeme Dott. But what he lacks in pace Ebdon more than makes up for in patience and he will test Hunter’s resolve to the full in what could be an intriguing clash of styles.