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Three decades on, a match still etched in memory
John Higgins vividly recalls the 1996 World Snooker Championship quarter-final against Ronnie O'Sullivan, a contest that ended in heartbreak but shaped his career. The Scot, then 20, led 12-11 and needed just two pots to reach his first semi-final. Instead, a missed pink handed O'Sullivan the frame, the match, and a path to the final.
"I might have won the World Championship two years earlier than I did. It's one of the most painful losses in my 34-year career."
John Higgins
The shot that slipped away
Higgins describes the pivotal moment: a routine clearance turned complex under pressure. Opting to stun the blue instead of his usual safety play, he left himself a near-impossible rest shot on the pink. O'Sullivan capitalised, forcing a decider, which he won. The Englishman later fell to Peter Ebdon in the semi-finals, while Stephen Hendry claimed the title.
Drama before the first ball
The match's backdrop added to its legend. The night before, O'Sullivan faced a disciplinary hearing after assaulting a World Snooker press officer. Fined £20,000 and given a suspended two-year ban, he was permitted to play. Higgins, unaware until 1 a.m., spent the night wondering if he'd receive a walkover.
"I was lying in bed thinking: 'Am I going to get a bye to the semi-finals?' I didn't know until one o'clock in the morning whether I'd be playing Ronnie at 10 a.m."
John Higgins
A rivalry that defined an era
Thirty years later, both players remain at snooker's summit. O'Sullivan holds seven world titles; Higgins, four. Their head-to-head at the Crucible stands at three wins apiece, including a 17-11 O'Sullivan victory in the 2022 semi-finals. Saturday's last-16 clash could be their final match at the venue.
Legends on the brink
At 50, Higgins and O'Sullivan are the oldest players left in the tournament. O'Sullivan, the oldest world champion at 46 (2022), could see his record broken in the coming days. Higgins, who defeated Ali Carter 10-7 in the first round, called the occasion "special" but insisted the focus remains on winning.
"There's a big chance this could be our final game, so it will be something to savour."
John Higgins
Psychology of a rivalry
O'Sullivan admitted he finds Higgins the toughest opponent among snooker's "Class of '92," which includes Mark Williams (51). "John enjoys playing me; I enjoy playing Mark. John doesn't like playing Mark," he said. Their first meeting came at age 14 in a junior tournament, where O'Sullivan recognised Higgins' talent immediately.
Despite joking about being "Rusty Ron" due to limited play in 2026, O'Sullivan crushed He Guoqiang 10-2 in the first round, switching cues between sessions. Higgins, meanwhile, dismissed sentimentality: "You're there to win. It's only the second round."
What's next
The match begins at 19:00 BST on Saturday, 25 April. Live coverage will air on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer, with updates on the BBC Sport website and app.
