All to play for tomorrow
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Had O’Sullivan taken Frame 14 to a black-ball shoot-out, finished off Frame 15 from 55-0 up and not gone in-off on that final red of Frame 16, the scoreboard might have had a finalistic 12-4 feel to it. Instead it reads 9-7, with all to play for in the final session after Higgins dug deep when he appeared to be at his lowest snookering ebb.
This match resumes at 1pm on Monday. You will not want to miss the conclusion, so it might be advisable to start laying down the groundwork for an impromptu work-from-home day...
Frame 16: Higgins 7 O’Sullivan 9
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You get the sense that whoever wins Frame 16 will have a significant psychological advantage coming back tomorrow. That seems to be clear in both players’ minds as they trade early misses. O’Sullivan miscues a tricky red into the yellow pocket along the left cushion and strikes the table in frustration.
Higgins is back in and appears to have his mojo back, taking each ball as it comes. A long blue is backed up with a tidy red but, just as Higgins looks on course for a frame-winning break, the cue ball rears off the right cushion and edges towards and then into the left middle pocket.
O’Sullivan gets to 53 and is left with a long red into the yellow pocket that is essentially frame ball, but it wobbles in the jaws. Higgins then misses an almost identical shot into the opposite pocket to draw oohs from the Crucible crowd, which is living every twist and turn of this absorbing contest.
The drama then ramps up another notch as Higgins leaves the red over the right corner pocket with only a little cover from the yellow. O’Sullivan swerves and pots the red but goes in-off. With ball in hand, Higgins makes no mistake, meaning he reels off four of the final five frames of the session. It is 7-9.
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) April 26, 2026A costly error from Ronnie O'Sullivan allows John Higgins back into the match 😱
The Rocket leads by two frames ahead of the final session 👀 pic.twitter.com/lDFFP4nN40
This is Crucible snooker at its breathless best.
Frame 15 (best of 25): Higgins 63 O’Sullivan 53
Higgins wins Frame 16
Frame 15: Higgins 6 O’Sullivan 9
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This is building into one of the frames of the match, and it could be pivotal. O’Sullivan flexes his safety-game muscles, escaping snookers carefully laid by Higgins, but leaves a long red. The Scot summons all of his technical might to sink it and picks off the remaining colours to claim a massive, massive frame. What a clearance.
O’Sullivan was leading this frame 55-0 and had Higgins looking down the barrel of a 10-5 deficit. But instead it is 9-6 heading into the final frame of the session.
Frame 15 (best of 25): Higgins 59 O’Sullivan 55
Higgins wins Frame 15
Frame 15: Higgins 5 O’Sullivan 9
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It probably speaks to Higgins’ addled state of mind that he takes on a ludicrously ambitious five-ball plant. It does not come off, of course, and O’Sullivan is at the table with the reds well and truly developed.
There is a potentially problematic red tying up the pink into the left corner pocket but even that disappears as a matter of course. O’Sullivan looks to be full steam ahead to tick off yet another frame, but his break is abruptly halted at 55 when a tricky red into the right right corner pocket does not go.
It would be massive if Higgins could snatch these last two frames of the session, and he seems almost to be at one with the cue ball, building a solid 25 break before having to play safe.
Frame 15 (best of 25): Higgins 25 O’Sullivan 55
Frame 14: Higgins 5 O’Sullivan 9
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O’Sullivan manages to sneak the cue ball in behind the blue near to the left cushion to snooker Higgins, but the Scot’s two-cushion escape is judged to perfection.
He is not, though, able to escape a far more straightforward snooker moments later in what could be a crucial moment in this frame. With the final red positioned topside of the pink, Higgins comes back off the top cushion but has loaded the ball with unwanted side which causes the cue ball to straighten, missing the red altogether. O’Sullivan has the snooker he needed.
He then goes red-black-yellow but misses a cannon before leaving the green over the pocket. Higgins, to his relief, is able to take the frame from there. His misfortune has been varied tonight, but spurning this frame with snookers required would have taken the biscuit.
Frame 14 (best of 25): Higgins 79 O’Sullivan 52
Higgins wins Frame 14
Frame 14: Higgins 4 O’Sullivan 9
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Higgins’ pot success rate in this match is 60 per cent – to O’Sullivan’s 76 per cent – and he is given the opportunity to raise that number when O’Sullivan misses a long red, holding the cue ball at the top of the table with several kindly positioned reds available.
It is his best frame of the session thus far in terms of cue-ball control, and he passes a stern test on frame ball, cutting a tricky red into the right corner pocket. He does, though, miss the subsequent black which piques O’Sullivan’s interest despite requiring a snooker to tie the frame.
We are down to one red and this is where O’Sullivan chooses to play for a snooker.
Frame 14 (best of 25): Higgins 71 O’Sullivan 32
Frame 13: Higgins 4 O’Sullivan 9
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O’Sullivan and Higgins are back from their mid-session interval and there is a big moment to start the 13th frame. With Higgins at the table, a spectator’s movement right in his eyeline puts him off, and while the referee hands out a few stern words, the damage appears to be done and the world No 5 misses what should have been a relatively straightforward red into the right corner pocket.
The Rocket is back in and does his familiar dance between red and black. He is a study of focus and races to a brisk 91 break in eight minutes and 19 seconds.
Frame 13 (best of 25): Higgins 8 O’Sullivan 91
O’Sullivan wins Frame 13
VAR drama at the Crucible
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The winner of O’Sullivan-Higgins will play either Neil Robertson or Chris Wakelin in the quarter-finals, with the Australian leading that last-16 match-up 10-6. Wakelin was a little unlucky to fall on the wrong side of this VAR intervention with the score at 7-6.
Across the arena
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Mark Selby and Wu Yize are just wrapping up their 11th frame, which the 22-year-old Chinese player captures. He leads the four-time world champion 6-5.
Frame 12: Higgins 4 O’Sullivan 8
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A misjudged O’Sullivan safety takes a double-kiss and presents Higgins with a look at a mid-range red which, after asking the referee to clean the ball, he sinks. He passes frame ball but, with his lead at 56 points with 51 left on the table, Higgins snookers himself to bring O’Sullivan back to the baize requiring two snookers. The attempt is short-lived, however, as the Rocket concedes after leaving a red over the right corner pocket. Higgins captures the frame to go into the mid-session interval at 4-8.
Frame 12 (best of 25): Higgins 63 O’Sullivan 7
Higgins wins Frame 12
Frame 12: Higgins 3 O’Sullivan 8
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It is a bit cat and mouse at the start of Frame 12, a frame which Higgins desperately needs to fall his way if he is to stand any chance of making this competitive. He has been battling his ball for most of this evening but digs deep to reach a 36-point lead. And it is a measure of the Scot’s character that he is able to spot and execute a wonderful three-ball plant to keep his break going.
He does though lose his cue ball soon after, giving O’Sullivan the chance to eat into his 54-point advantage. With three of the remaining reds positioned tight to the top cushion, he is only able to red-blue before accepting that a safety battle is his only option.
Frame 12 (best of 25): Higgins 55 O’Sullivan 7
Hendry: Higgins looks intimidated
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Speaking on the BBC during the short break between frames, Stephen Hendry said: He [Higgins] could lose the match tonight, the way he’s going. He’s looking weak. When he gets in he’s not looking like he has anything to offer, he doesn’t look confident. From the first frame last night he’s looked intimidated, which I’m really surprised at.
Frame 11: Higgins 3 O’Sullivan 8
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In truth, Higgins has not looked fully settled at any point in this match, and here he misses a tricky black with the rest, catching the cut much too fine. It had come about after he had failed to account for a pink being respotted on the brown spot which had hampered his cuing position.
Ronnie needs no second invitation and speeds through the loose balls, even dropping in a challenging cut into the right corner pocket to break up a cluster of three red balls that was the only thing standing between him and the frame.
A missed black means it is “only” a break of 80, but it is another frame to O’Sullivan. Higgins is in big trouble here.
Frame 11 (best of 25): Higgins 8 O’Sullivan 81
O’Sullivan wins Frame 11
Frame 10: Higgins 3 O’Sullivan 7
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O’Sullivan drops in a stunning long red and, in his typically fluent style, begins motoring through various red-colour combinations. A plant threatens to halt his progress but even that is executed perfectly.
The reds are placed invitingly and his target swiftly shifts from winning the frame to claiming his second century of the match. A stunning screw shot positions him perfectly on the green and he clears up from there to make a quick-fire 116 break. His four-frame advantage is restored.
Frame 10 (best of 25): Higgins 1 O’Sullivan 132
O’Sullivan wins Frame 10
Frame 10: Higgins 3 O’Sullivan 6
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Higgins’ break-off clips the pink on the way back but, thankfully for him, lands tight to the baulk cushion. The Scot will hope this type of good fortune is a sign of things to come.
A wayward long red misses on the thick side by quite a distance, though, and puts O’Sullivan in prime position to sink an open red into the right corner pocket. He cannot capitalise on the opportunity however, losing position again before watching a red rattle in the jaws of the left corner pocket. Then again, neither can Higgins when he comes to the table moments later when he pots his first long red of the session – he then misses a straightforward yellow.
Such is the nature of this nervy 10th frame, O’Sullivan flukes a red but again cannot get anything going. He is forced to send the cue ball back down to the baulk cushion.
Frame 10 (best of 25): Higgins 1 O’Sullivan 16
Frame 9: Higgins 3 O’Sullivan 6
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A slightly clumsy safety from O’Sullivan takes a double-kiss and Higgins then conjures up a moment of magic. Without being able to see the entirety of the red, he cross doubles it into the right middle pocket and lands topside of the baulk line to ensure he can work the cue ball back up to the reds.
With the pack developed, Higgins racks up the points, moving on to the colours without any fuss. His 83 break is his biggest of the tournament.
The four-time world champion needed to start quickly this evening and he has done just that. The deficit is reduced to three.
Frame 9 (best of 25): Higgins 114 O’Sullivan 22
Higgins wins Frame 9
Frame 9: Higgins 2 O’Sullivan 6
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There is no getting away from how important this session is for Higgins, given the scoreline, and it is the Scot who gets the first look at a long red. He catches it a tad thick and puts O’Sullivan in with the red hanging over the pocket.
Plenty of conversations have been had this week regarding how tight these corner pockets seem to be this year and O’Sullivan, having built a break of 22, misses after losing position trying to open up the pack.
Higgins returns to the baize and works his way through the loose reds, but he, too, comes unstuck while trying to break up the pack. He lands on nothing and sends the cue ball back down to the baulk cushion.
Frame 9 (best of 25): Higgins 31 O’Sullivan 22
The players are introduced to the crowd
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Rob Walker is on the mic once more and it is the talented Wu Yize steps out into the arena first to the Weeknd’s track Starboy (very apt), before “The Jester from Leicester” Mark Selby is introduced to the audience.
“The greatest player in history” Ronnie O’Sullivan steps out and is closely followed by John Higgins.
The partition comes down and we are all good to go. Ronnie to break-off.
Have your say
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Share your thoughts in the comments section underneath this liveblog
Latest results and scores
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Completed matches:
Shaun Murphy (8) def. Xiao Guodong (9) 13-3
Mark Allen (14) def. Kyren Wilson (3) 13-9
Barry Hawkins (11) def. Mark Williams (6) 13-9
Zhao Xintong (1) def. Ding Junhui (16) 13-9
Ongoing matches:
Neil Robertson (4) leads Chris Wakelin (13) 10-6
Judd Trump (2) leads Hossein Vafaei 9-7
Mark Selby (7) and Wu Yize (10) tied at 4-4
Ronnie O’Sullivan (12) leads John Higgins (5) 6-2
The pundits’ verdicts
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Of the opening session, Steve Davis, the BBC commentator, said: “Ronnie O’Sullivan will be very pleased with his day’s work and it will be rest and start again tomorrow. Ronnie has seemed measured in interviews and he’s enjoying the challenge. Sometimes he’s come here and not liked the attention but he looks more relaxed with the eyes up on him.”
John Parrott added: “Ronnie was pretty evil there in amongst the balls and was definitely the best of the two players.
“I think on what we’ve seen 6-2 is the right scoreline. [Sunday] is another day for John Higgins and he’s got to make the most of chances. He’s capable of beating Ronnie 6-2 tomorrow. He’s going to have to find his top game because Ronnie doesn’t look like he is going to dip.”
An evenly split Crucible head-to-head
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O’Sullivan and Higgins have faced off six times at the World Championship, sharing three wins apiece:
1996 World Championships: Quarter-final
O’Sullivan def. Higgins (13-12)
1998 World Championships: Semi-final
Higgins def. O’Sullivan (17-9)
2001 World Championships: Final
O’Sullivan def. Higgins (18-14)
2007 World Championships: Quarter-final
Higgins def. O’Sullivan (13-9)
2011 World Championships: Quarter-final
Higgins def. O’Sullivan (13-10)
2022 World Championships: Semi-final
O’Sullivan def. Higgins (17-11)
Mark Allen: ‘Hendry is full of rubbish’
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World No 14 Mark Allen is safely through to the quarter-finals, having seen off Kyren Wilson 13-9. But Stephen Hendry, on BBC commentary duty, did not take kindly to Allen turning down a pink while 5-1 up. He said: “‘I’m trying to think of another player that would refuse that pink in this Championship and I’m struggling.
“I don’t think, personally, you can win the World Championship playing this way, that’s my opinion.”
Like many players of his generation, Allen has publicly said that he once idolised Hendry but that did not prevent him from railing against . “Stephen’s entitled to his opinion, but more often than not, he’s full of rubbish, to be honest.
“Not everyone can come here and make it look as easy as he did, but you’re also looking at someone that never won a Triple Crown event after they turned 30, so the game changes and maybe that stubbornness is what cost him the later part of his career.”
The Northern Irishman added: “It’s very easy for him to sit in the commentary box and criticise. He’s no idea what I’m thinking when I’m out there and I’ll never, ever apologise for trying my hardest on any given shot.”
O’Sullivan puts Higgins in ‘big trouble’
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Welcome to our live coverage of the World Snooker Championship. This evening Ronnie O’Sullivan resumes his last-16 battle with John Higgins having opened up a 6-2 lead on Saturday. It was a blockbuster session that featured all three members of the storied “Class of ‘92” who received a standing ovation from the capacity Crucible crowd. But the Rocket was in no mood for pleasantries and built breaks of 86, 82, 137 and 95 to snatch a 4-1 advantage, and while Higgins’ 105 break narrowed the margin, O’Sullivan replied by taking the final two frames of the session.
The seven-time world champion has wasted no time getting his teeth into this year’s tournament, despite having floated the “Rusty Ron” moniker early doors, seeing off debutant He Guoqiang 10-2 in the first round with a minimum of fuss before returning on Saturday with similar fluency. O’Sullivan’s intensity and control of the cue ball has impressed thus far, restricting his opponents’ ability to build a head of steam: Higgins laid on 252 points in the opening session, fewer even than Guoqiang had managed at the same juncture (275), albeit with one frame fewer played. Ken Doherty, the BBC commentator, described the Rocket’s performance as “wonderful”, admitting that Higgins is in “big trouble”.
This is the 80th professional meeting between O’Sullivan and Higgins, with the former leading their head-to-head 41-35. In the build-up to this latest encounter, Higgins suggested that this might be the pair’s last dance at the Crucible given they are both 50 years old and that has certainly added to the intrigue. They have split their six previous meetings at the World Championship equally and while O’Sullivan is firmly in charge here, momentum can swing unpredictably in the longer formats, particularly at this historic Sheffield venue. Furthermore, Higgins has recent form in terms of mounting comebacks; in his last tournament – at the Tour Championship – he found himself 8-5 down to Mark Selby in the semi-final before pulling off five immaculate frames in succession to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. He is more than capable of reeling rivals in and this evening’s second session will have a significant bearing on the result.
The victor will face either Neil Robertson and Chris Wakelin – the Australian opened up a 10-6 in today’s afternoon session. In Saturday night’s other match, Barry Hawkins completed a 13-9 victory over Mark Williams to book his place in the quarter-finals where he will face Mark Allen.
Play resumes at 7pm.