The World Championship last-16 tie between Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins is set for a thrilling finish on Monday after the Scot won the last three frames of the second session to close the deficit to only two.
O’Sullivan’s Lead Cut After Higgins Fightback
Seven-time Crucible winner O’Sullivan led 6-2 following Saturday’s first session and the match looked over when he stretched that advantage to 9-4 in the first-to-13 clash.
But fellow ‘Class of 92’ member Higgins, with four world titles himself, fought back on a night of high drama to leave O’Sullivan 9-7 ahead, needing four more to claim victory.
The tension appeared to get to O’Sullivan in the final frame of the session when he punched the table in frustration, having missed a pot on a red.
“That is exactly what it means to Ronnie O’Sullivan,” said 1997 world champion and BBC commentator Ken Doherty. “He’s getting frustrated. He had a great chance in the previous frame and didn’t convert. Those knuckles will be sore, let me tell you.”
O’Sullivan and Higgins, who are both 50, play the final session of an enthralling match from 13:00 BST on Monday, live on BBC Two.
Hendry Praises Higgins’ Resilience
“John has been incredible and it is incredible he is in this match,” said seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry. “Last night [in Saturday’s first session] he really struggled for whatever reason.
“Ronnie’s play was outstanding but John seemed really un-Higgins like. Maybe it was a little bit of nerves, a bit of intimidation, but he has just battled to stay in this match. Ronnie did not look the same player.”
How the Match Shifted
After a break of 83 from Higgins in the ninth frame, O’Sullivan won two in a row, thanks to runs of 116 and 80, to hold a dominant five-frame advantage at 8-3.
Higgins won the 12th, but O’Sullivan’s break of 91 left the Englishman 9-4 in front.
But the final three frames were very dramatic. Higgins looked in control of the 14th, with O’Sullivan needing a snooker to have any chance, which he then got, although he could not capitalise.
Higgins took the 15th on a black-ball finish, with O’Sullivan then hitting the table early on in the last frame of the night.
His mood was not improved when he potted a long red but then saw the cue ball follow it into the same pocket, with that foul proving crucial as Higgins took the frame to give himself some hope.
O’Sullivan Aims for Record
O’Sullivan is fighting to make the Crucible quarter-finals for a 24th time and looking for an eighth world title, which would be a record in the modern era.
- O’Sullivan led 6-2 after the first session.
- O’Sullivan’s lead stretched to 9-4.
- Higgins won the last three frames.
He was watched by former Manchester United footballer Paul Scholes during his 10-2 first-round win over Chinese debutant He Guoqiang and, this time, UFC fighter Paddy Pimblett and Liverpool defender Milos Kerkez were in attendance.
O’Sullivan and Higgins are playing in their seventh match against each other at the Crucible. Both players won three of the first six meetings.
They, along with the rest of the crowd at the Crucible, would have left thoroughly entertained.