Higgins and Ronnie neck-to-neck in quarter-finals: 2011 Betfred.com World Snooker Championship
Both the three-time world champions, John Higgins and Ronnie O’Sullivan, have ended their opening session with a score-line of 4-4, in the best-of-twenty-five quarter-final match of the 2011 Betfred.com World Snooker Championship, which is being
held the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield.
It was a spectacular game, as both the players exchanged heavy fire in between them, however the overall score-line between them was 94 (53)-0, 66 (66)-0, 28-83 (69), 15-93, 65-64, 121 (121)-0, 35-89 (89) and 0-105 (105).
The world number one, Higgins, dominated the first frame two frames with decisive breaks of 53 and 66 respectively to lead 2-0. He was also the first one to be among the balls in the third, but this time he only managed 28 points. The world number
ten, O’Sullivan, however responded with a superb clearance of 69 points to come within one frame at 2-1. He also took the following fourth without doing anything outstanding to level the things at 2-2 before the interval.
On resuming the game first frame was over within a blink of an eye, as the Wizard of Wishaw, Higgins, fired up a magnificent match-highest century break of 121 in it to lead 3-2 which he further extended to 4-2 by winning the sixth.
Higgins could have won the seventh frame as well, but he blew the golden opportunity by missing one of the simplest black off the spot. The Rocket, O’Sullivan, capitalised on the given chance and fired up a carving break of 89, followed by another
dazzling century break of 115 in the eighth frame to level the things at 4-4.
Higgins afterwards told the media, "It's always a great occasion, wherever you play him. He's got the Jimmy White and Alex Higgins factor. The crowd are on his side and that generates a buzz that you love playing in.
Playing O'Sullivan anywhere probably generates the same buzz as playing in a final against most other people."
O’Sullivan on the same note said "John's given everyone half a season start and still won more than everyone else. He's been the best player in the world for the last three or four years probably."
Both players will start off with their second session today at the Crucible Theatre.
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