THERE was no room at the inn for Ronnie O’Sullivan but the world champion was still happy to extend his stay in York.

O’Sullivan was unable to get a bed in the city ahead of his 6-0 first round drubbing of Rhys Clark, revealing he had been forced to change in the toilets of a nearby hotel.

But the Rocket’s return to the Barbican – he did not enter the tournament last year – caused him no such inconvenience, the four-time UK champ admitting he was on the hunt for a maximum break throughout the short-lived clash.

O’Sullivan was ruthless against the young Scot, who was visibly nervous and struggled in front of a packed main arena and the BBC TV cameras.

The world champion was so relaxed during his match that he made a concerted effort to bag the £59,000 prize on offer for a 147 and the tournament’s highest break.

“I paid my school fees last week,” he said, referring to his victory in the Champion of Champions event in Coventry. “It’s a bit of Christmas money this week. I went for the maximum virtually every frame. My focus was on trying to get a 147.

“My next match – Adam Duffy is a good player. That’s not to say Rhys isn’t but you could see he was nervous. I’ll not be able to take so many risks.”

Clark was “embarrassed” by the scale of the defeat. “Ronnie was awesome and every time I got in I lost position. I just couldn’t score. Even when I didn’t make mistakes, he potted a few long ones and he just outplayed me in every aspect.

“It’s embarrassing, I know it’s to Ronnie, but it’s embarrassing getting beaten 6-0.”