RONNIE O’Sullivan reckons Michael White has what it takes to become a “possible multiple world champion” – and he wouldn’t be surprised if the Welshman triumphed at the Crucible this year.

O’Sullivan was hugely impressed by the way White saw off John Higgins in the last 16 of the BetVictor Welsh Open today and feels there are exciting times ahead for the 24-year-old.

Speaking after his own 4-1 victory over China’s Yu Delu, five-time world champion O’Sullivan praised White’s attitude to snooker and insisted that the Neath cueman is “going to win big”.

“Michael White’s not a middle-ranked player, he’s now a top player,” said ‘The Rocket’. “Obviously he played well and John was probably slightly off his game.

“I wouldn’t say he (White) is quite there yet but he’s definitely knocking on the door of the top eight, and if he won the world title this year I wouldn’t be surprised.

“I don’t want to put pressure on him because I really, really like him, and I just want him to go about his business and do what he has got to do.

“I really like him as a person and I don’t think you can deny the talent he has, the snooker brain he has, and the most important thing that he has and that’s bottle.

“You can have all the talent in the world but if you can’t close matches out under the cosh you’re going to struggle to win major events because players aren’t going to roll over for you.

“He has all the ingredients to be a world champion, and I love his attitude.

“He has a love and enthusiasm for the game and I just think he is going a long way, we’re talking about a possible multiple world champion.

“He’s going to win big – he has to.”

As for O’Sullivan, he is still in with a chance of claiming a fourth Welsh Open crown following a comfortable defeat of Delu.

After losing the first frame on a re-spotted black, the 40-year-old made breaks of 96, 132, 70 and 66 to qualify for the quarter-finals.