O’Sullivan and Higgins in thrilling World Championship encounter
Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins are locked in a Crucible clash for the ages at the World Championship, with the Rocket having led 9-7 at the start of the session, reports BritPanorama.
The two legends, who share 11 world titles between them, are producing a captivating battle in Sheffield. O’Sullivan, now 50, dominated the opening session on Saturday, establishing a commanding 6-2 lead before Higgins rallied.
Former world champion John Parrott described O’Sullivan as “pretty evil there amongst the balls” during his early dominance, noting the Englishman was clearly the superior player. The Scot clawed back three consecutive frames to conclude Sunday’s session, keeping his quarter-final hopes alive.
Parrott has revealed the extent of O’Sullivan’s commitment to this year’s championship, disclosing that the seven-time winner spent the entire evening practising following his 10-2 demolition of He Guoqiang in the opening round. Parrott explained that when he arrived at the venue at half past six for the evening broadcast, O’Sullivan was already on the practice tables. When Parrott departed at 11pm, the 50-year-old was only just packing away his cue.
“Ronnie was on the table all night. So he’s putting the hours and the graft in. Along with the talent, it’s a pretty dangerous combination,” Parrott observed. Steve Davis has highlighted a significant shift in O’Sullivan’s approach this year. The six-time world champion noted that O’Sullivan reached the World Open final approximately a month ago and has reportedly been putting in considerable practice time since.
More notably, Davis pointed out that O’Sullivan has openly stated his ambition to win the title—something the Rocket has never previously done throughout his illustrious career. “He’s turned up here and he looks bang on it,” Davis remarked during the BBC coverage. This public declaration of intent represents a departure from O’Sullivan’s typically understated approach to major tournaments.
O’Sullivan has spoken candidly about his renewed enthusiasm for the sport. The seven-time champion admitted he now feels eager to compete, whereas previously he had been apprehensive about playing due to consistently poor shot-making. “Now, I get excited about playing because I think I’m going to hit some nice shots, and that’s all I want to do,” O’Sullivan explained. He acknowledged his game remains imperfect but suggested this matters less at his career stage, emphasising his priority is simply enjoying himself at the table.
Higgins, meanwhile, demonstrated his fighting qualities by taking the final three frames of Sunday’s session to remain in contention.
As the tournament progresses, it becomes clear that both players are not just battling for a title, but encapsulating the relentless spirit of snooker itself. The spectre of rivalry looms large, alongside the joy of competition—a reminder of the enduring allure of this sport.
