Ronnie O'Sullivan leads John Higgins 9-7 after the second session of their last-16 match at the Crucible, according to multiple reports. Higgins won the last three frames of the session to reduce O'Sullivan's lead from 9-4, and O'Sullivan punched the table in frustration after missing a red in the 16th frame, as reported by several outlets.
Pundits offered contrasting assessments of the two sessions. Stephen Hendry said Higgins was 'incredible' to stay in the match and that O'Sullivan did not look the same player in the second session. John Parrott described O'Sullivan as 'evil' among the balls during the first session.
Higgins was incredible to stay in the match and O'Sullivan did not look the same player in the second session.
A controversy has emerged over O'Sullivan's use of Triangle chalk, which leaves marks on the table and has been criticized by other players, according to multiple reports. Higgins previously called the Triangle chalk a 'nightmare' and said it causes kicks.
In other matches, defending champion Zhao Xintong defeated Ding Junhui 13-9 to reach the quarter-finals, as reported by multiple sources. Wu Yize leads Mark Selby 9-7 after the second session, Judd Trump leads Hossein Vafaei 9-7, and Neil Robertson leads Chris Wakelin 10-6, according to multiple reports.
O'Sullivan was 'evil' among the balls during the first session.
The rivalry between O'Sullivan and Higgins dates back to their boyhood, according to research. The rivalry is not personal and has never boiled over, sources said. Both players are turning 51 in 2025. O'Sullivan first played Higgins when Higgins was 14 at Pontins, O'Sullivan said. Higgins said he thought O'Sullivan was incredible when he first saw him, according to a 2023 interview with WST. Higgins beat O'Sullivan in the 1991 World Junior Masters quarter-finals, and they met in the finals of the Masters and British Open in 1995, each winning one, according to research.
The 1996 headbutt incident remains a notable chapter in their history. O'Sullivan headbutted press officer Mike Ganley before the 1996 Crucible match, according to O'Sullivan's book as cited by Metro, though Express reported it as 'allegedly'. Higgins did not know until 1am whether he would play O'Sullivan at 10am due to the incident, Higgins said. There were conflicting reports that O'Sullivan might be thrown out of the tournament, Higgins added. O'Sullivan received a £20,000 fine and a two-year suspended ban, according to multiple reports. Some accounts allege O'Sullivan also grabbed Ganley's groin and bit him on the lip, though this is disputed. O'Sullivan won the 1996 Crucible quarter-final 13-12, with Higgins leading 12-10 before losing, according to multiple reports. O'Sullivan explained the headbutt was because Ganley tried to throw him and his friend out of the players' lounge, O'Sullivan said in his book Unbreakable. O'Sullivan and Higgins have met six times at the Crucible, with the head-to-head at 3-3, and they share 11 world titles between them, according to multiple reports.
The Triangle chalk is a 'nightmare' and causes kicks.
I first played Higgins when he was 14 at Pontins.
I thought O'Sullivan was incredible when I first saw him.
I didn't know until 1am whether I would play O'Sullivan at 10am.
The headbutt was because Ganley tried to throw me and my friend out of the players' lounge.