The World Championship last-16 tie between Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins is set for a thrilling finish on Monday after the Scot won the last three frames of the second session to close the deficit to only two.
Seven-time Crucible winner O’Sullivan led 6-2 following Saturday’s first session and the match looked over when he stretched that advantage to 9-4 in the first-to-13 clash.
But fellow ‘Class of 92’ member Higgins, with four world titles himself, fought back on a night of high drama to leave O’Sullivan 9-7 ahead, needing four more to claim victory.
The tension appeared to get to O’Sullivan in the final frame of the session when he punched the table in frustration, having missed a pot on a red.
“That is exactly what it means to Ronnie O’Sullivan,” said 1997 world champion and BBC commentator Ken Doherty. “He’s getting frustrated. He had a great chance in the previous frame and didn’t convert. Those knuckles will be sore, let me tell you.”
O’Sullivan and Higgins, who are both 50, play the final session of an enthralling match from 13:00 BST on Monday, live on BBC Two.
