According to multiple reports, John Higgins and Ronnie O'Sullivan have met seven times at the Crucible, matching the record for most encounters between two players at the venue. Their head-to-head record is 3-3.
Their first Crucible meeting came in 1996, a quarter-final that O'Sullivan won 13-12. Before that match, O'Sullivan headbutted tournament official Mike Ganley. According to multiple reports, O'Sullivan was fined £20,000 and given a two-year suspended ban. Some reports also allege that O'Sullivan grabbed Ganley's groin and bit him on the lip during the incident.
I didn't know until one o'clock in the morning whether I was going to have to play Ronnie at 10am because that was the time, obviously, he stuck the head on Mike Ganley, or something. I thought it was every chance because there was conflicting reports that he was going to get thrown out of the tournament, so I was lying in my bed at night thinking: Am I going to get a bye into the semi-finals here? I got a phone call in the hotel. I was staying at the old Grosvenor that's not there anymore. The call basically says: Yeah, you're playing Ronnie at 10 in the morning and I was like, for f**k sake! So it's just funny how that was 30 years ago. I remember it as clear as day.
According to Daily Express - Sport, John Higgins described being uncertain whether the match would take place. He said he received a phone call at 1 a.m. confirming the match would proceed at 10 a.m. Higgins led 12-10 in the match before losing 13-12.
That is one match that sticks in my mind so much. I was 12-11 in front, potted the green. I've got easy clearance with the colours and I normally pot the brown, just play off the side cushion and be above the blue. But this time I decided just to stun down when you're under a bit of pressure. I was well below the blue. I went round the angles and landed a very tough...