And O’Sullivan was a model of good behaviour in the final session as he earned himself a four-day break before his next outing.

He momentarily pointed a finger towards the crowd in the penultimate frame of the match, seemingly admonishing a member of the audience for calling out while he was on a shot.

But his earlier crude gesture in the 16th frame could yet come back to haunt him if the governing body decide to take action.

However, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association were still refusing to comment tonight.

O’Sullivan did not risk landing in further trouble after two sessions during which he had sworn to himself, conceding frames with Hicks still at the table and smashed his hand on the table in frustration at missing a comfortable shot.

Hicks, who had remained unfazed throughout O’Sullivan’s antics, looked more apprehensive with his opponent toeing the line.

They could not be separated after 16 frames and world number 62 Hicks refused to buckle on the re-start.

The 1995 semi-finalist led 9-8 and 10-9, including a break of 71 in the 19th.

But once O’Sullivan obtained parity at 10-10 with his fifth century of the match, Hicks began to crack.

O’Sullivan’s 106 added to breaks of 123, 101, 127 and 125. It enabled him to equal the record of five tons in a best of 25 frame match by Scotland’s John Higgins.

O’Sullivan then hit the front at 11-10 and doubled his lead for the first time in the match at 12-10.

Hicks hung on at 12-11 but O’Sullivan finished off with 80 to squeeze through.

There was honour in defeat though for Hicks who arrived at Sheffield as a 500-1 outsider and without a Crucible victory for nine years.