4-time winner John Higgins produced a sensational restoration from 8-3 and 9-4 all the way down to defeat Ronnie O’Sullivan 13-12, however world primary Judd Trump was eradicated on an exciting day on the World Championship.
Trump misplaced 13-12 to Iranian qualifier Hossein Vafaei of their last-16 tie on the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield on Monday night.
Seven-time champion O’Sullivan was looking for an eighth title to set a brand new outright file within the fashionable period, and twice held five-frame leads in Sunday’s second session.
However Higgins gained the final three frames on Sunday and maintained that kind by taking the primary three on Monday as O’Sullivan misplaced six successive frames on the Crucible for less than the fifth time.
In a high-quality thriller, performed out in entrance of an enthralled crowd, O’Sullivan gained the twentieth and twenty first frames to regain the lead at 11-10.
In absolutely the match of the match, and top-of-the-line within the 49 years on the iconic venue, Higgins gained two frames in a row to maneuver one away at 12-11, however O’Sullivan’s break of 81 pressured a decider.
Higgins had the primary probability however missed a purple into the center at 16-0 to present O’Sullivan a lifeline, earlier than the Englishman might solely rating eight factors and did not pot a purple.
The Scot then made a break of 49 on his technique to sealing a match-winning body, with each gamers getting a standing ovation because the tie completed.
The 50-year-olds are two of snooker’s fabled ‘Class of ’92’, together with 51-year-old Mark Williams, with the trio having 14 world titles between them.
Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry mentioned: “You simply cannot play snooker higher than this. After this match the match has so much to stay as much as – it is simply not going to get any higher.”
Ken Doherty, who gained the title in 1997, added: “What a turnaround from John. He simply dug in and performed a number of the greatest snooker we have seen for years.
“Possibly it was one of many best last-16 matches I’ve ever seen. The snooker he was producing was from the gods.”
Higgins, the champion in 1998, 2007, 2009 and 2011, will now play 2010 winner Neil Robertson, who defeated world quantity 13 Chris Wakelin 13-7.
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