O'Sullivan first played Higgins at Pontins when Higgins was 14. According to Metro - Main, Ronnie O'Sullivan described how he had never heard of John until that tournament, but immediately recognised his talent, calling him an unbelievable player. Higgins beat O'Sullivan in the quarter-finals of the 1991 World Junior Masters when Higgins was 15, and went on to defeat Mark Williams in the final of that event.
Their rivalry intensified in 1995 when they met in the finals of the Masters and the British Open, each winning one trophy. Their first Crucible meeting came in 1996, but it was nearly derailed by an incident in which O'Sullivan assaulted press officer Mike Ganley. According to Metro - Main, John Higgins described not knowing until one o'clock in the morning whether he would have to play O'Sullivan at 10 a.m. because of the incident. Higgins recalled lying in bed thinking he might get a bye into the semi-finals, but a phone call confirmed the match would go ahead.
I played him in Pontins when he was only 14 and I'd never heard of John until that tournament.
O'Sullivan has said he headbutted Ganley because Ganley tried to throw O'Sullivan and his friend out of the players' lounge. He expressed regret, calling it the only headbutt he has ever done and saying he had lost his way. Despite the disruption, O'Sullivan won that Crucible quarter-final 13-12.
John Higgins reflected on their long history, saying that when he first saw O'Sullivan, he thought he was incredible, a view that has been proved right. The exact outcome of the disciplinary process regarding the headbutt remains unclear, as does how it affected O'Sullivan's relationship with snooker authorities at the time. Their current world rankings and head-to-head record at the Crucible are also not specified, but their upcoming match promises to add another chapter to a storied rivalry.
You knew then that he was an unbelievable player. He's an amazing player.
When I first clapped eyes on him, I thought this guy was just incredible, there was something about him. Obviously that's been proved right.
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 he stuck the head on Mike Ganley or something.
I thought it was every chance because there were 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 bite of the semi-finals here?"
I got a phone call in the hotel. The phone 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 the things I can remember. That was many years ago, 30 years ago. I remember it as clear as day.
He tried throwing me and my mate out of the players' lounge.
I'm not proud of it; it's the only headbutt I've ever done in my life, and the only time I've grabbed someone by the balls and called them a grass. Like I say, I'd lost my way. I'd become someone I didn't want to be.