Higgins Fights Back to Trail O'Sullivan by Two as Zhao Books Quarter-Final Spot
O'Sullivan's Five-Frame Cushion Wiped Out in Dramatic Crucible Evening Session
John Higgins produced a characteristically resilient late rally to reduce Ronnie O'Sullivan's advantage to just two frames — 9-7 — at the end of their second-round second session at the Crucible on Sunday evening. O'Sullivan, a seven-time world champion, had twice established a five-frame buffer and appeared on course for a comfortable passage into the quarter-finals, only for the 49-year-old Higgins to draw on more than three decades of elite-level experience to dramatically alter the complexion of the match.
Higgins struggled to find any rhythm in the early exchanges and was frequently out of position, leaving O'Sullivan to dictate terms across much of the session. Yet the Scot's capacity to manufacture frames even when operating well below his best — a hallmark of his career — surfaced at a pivotal moment. Trailing and in difficulty, Higgins won frame 14 despite botching an attempted escape from a snooker, a piece of fortune he converted into momentum rather than relief. He subsequently clawed back a 55-point deficit in the following frame before both players exchanged errors — including in-off shots from each man — in an edgy session closer that ultimately went to Higgins. O'Sullivan's frustration was visible: the Essex potter thumped the cushion with his knuckles after miscuing on an early red in that decisive frame, a rare public display of irritation from a player renowned for his composure under pressure.
Historical Context: Higgins vs O'Sullivan at the Crucible
The rivalry between these two players is among the most storied in the sport's history. According to CueTracker data, Higgins and O'Sullivan have met on numerous occasions at the Crucible across their combined 13 world title victories — five for Higgins, seven for O'Sullivan — making Sunday evening's contest a meeting of genuine snooker royalty. Higgins's ability to compete deep into matches even when out of form has defined much of his later career; his four world titles span from 1998 to 2009, and he has reached at least the semi-finals on multiple occasions since. Whether that experience proves sufficient to overturn a two-frame deficit when the match concludes remains to be seen, but the momentum unquestionably shifted in Sheffield's famous theatre on Sunday night.
Zhao Edges Past Ding to Reach Last Eight
Earlier in the day, defending champion Zhao Xintong confirmed his quarter-final place with a 13-9 victory over compatriot Ding Junhui in what proved a nervy but ultimately controlled performance. Zhao had taken a 9-7 lead into the final session, but Ding reduced the arrears to a single frame in an error-riddled 46-minute opener that lasted well beyond what its scoreline suggested. The 29-year-old Zhao steadied himself thereafter, capitalising on a succession of misses from Ding to gradually pull clear. A break of 108 in the penultimate frame — Zhao's 11th century of the tournament according to snooker.org — effectively sealed the contest.
Zhao is attempting something no player has managed in the professional era: retaining the world title as a first-time winner. The so-called "Crucible Curse" has claimed every champion who arrived at the venue without a prior title to their name, and Zhao's maiden victory in 2023 — secured during his comeback from a suspension — placed him squarely in that statistical bracket. Speaking to BBC Sport after his win, Zhao acknowledged the mental weight of the occasion: "Today I think there was more pressure. I know Ding didn't play very well in the last session, but the pressure is very big. This year I just don't want to lose any match, so it feels very different." He will face Shaun Murphy in the quarter-finals.
Wu Leads Selby Heading Into Monday's Decider
The third second-round match in play on Sunday saw 22-year-old Wu Yize establish a 9-7 lead over four-time world champion Mark Selby, with their contest scheduled to conclude on Monday afternoon. Selby had appeared briefly threatening after compiling back-to-back centuries in the opening two frames of their evening session, a combination of scoring that briefly threatened to shift the contest decisively in the Leicester player's favour. Wu, however, responded with composure beyond his years, recovering from 4-4 at the end of the first session to move 9-6 ahead before Selby claimed the final frame of the night to close the gap marginally. At 9-7, Selby — whose four world titles make him one of the most accomplished players in the draw — retains a realistic chance of pulling level and beyond, though Wu's consistency across the match has been a notable feature of proceedings.
