Ronnie O'Sullivan has admitted that he is desperate to end his seven-year wait for a UK Championship title.

The Rocket has won the trophy four times previously, first tasting success as a 17-year-old to become the youngest player to ever win a ranking event in the sport.

However, since comfortably beating Stephen Maguire 10-2 in the 2007 final, O'Sullivan has failed to win an event which has passed him by in recent times.

"For many years it was the one I had won the most with four titles, whereas I had won the Masters and the world title less," he is quoted as saying by the Daily Star. "I 've done well in the other two recently but not the UK Championship.

"It is special because it is where it all started for me. Winning that first one at the age of 17 was an amazing experience. This was my big one for so long. I won it early in my career a few times and it has now been seven years since I lifted the trophy.

"I am on five worlds and five Masters now, so being on four UK titles is lagging behind. I haven't done as well as I would like in the event for a number of years and that is something I would like to put right. And I would like to bring that total up to five before my career is over and tuck another one under my belt."

O'Sullivan will take on Daniel Wells in round one of the tournament, which gets underway next weekend.