Shropshire ace Adrian Gunnell today insisted snooker would be lost without the audacious talents of Ronnie O’Sullivan after the Rocket’s latest green baize controversy.

O’Sullivan, who will be heading to Telford in December in an attempt to regain the UK Championship title he won in 2007, romped to a 3-0 World Open victory over Mark King in Glasgow yesterday.

But the victory was overshadowed by O’Sullivan’s bizarre antics in the final frame when he completed a far from routine maximum 147 break, the 10th of his tournament career.

O’Sullivan was clearly disillusioned that the reward for a maximum clearance would be limited to the highest break prize of £4,000 – there is usually a major cash reward for achieving the feat at ranking tournaments.

After clearing 15 reds and blacks and five of the colours, O’Sullivan shook hands with King before being convinced by referee Jan Verhaas to complete the break by potting a straight-forward black.

His behaviour has been criticised by some, but Gunnell – who was knocked out of the tournament 24 hours earlier by Ding Junhui – believes it is all part of O’Sullivan’s make-up.

“Nothing surprises me with Ronnie,” said the 38-year-old from Telford.

“If anybody else had done it, it would have been totally bizarre, but you just don’t know what Ronnie is going to do next.

“I think he was planning it through the frame because he was laughing when he potted the yellow and I was wondering what he was up to.

“But the game needs Ronnie to survive.

“There is no other player around or coming through that people go mental about turning up to watch.”

Gunnell admitted he was gobsmacked that – with new supremo Barry Hearn attempting to lead a revolution of the sport – there was no prize for a maximum break in the new event.

“I find it staggering because it’s the one thing people come to see,” he added. “You don’t see darts taking away their reward for a nine dart finish.

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s always fantastic to get a maximum but it gives players less of an incentive.”

O’Sullivan now plays fellow crowd favourite Jimmy White in the second round on Thursday.