Ronnie O'Sullivan had 'flight booked home' ahead of John Higgins clash at World Snooker Championship
Ronnie O'Sullivan says he had flight home booked for Monday morning in anticipation of losing to John Higgins with session to spare in last-16 clash at World Snooker Championship; seven-time champion led 9-4 before Higgins won six straight frames to nudge ahead, before winning 13-12
Last Updated: 27/04/26 6:46pm
Ronnie O'Sullivan revealed he had a flight home booked for Monday morning in anticipation of losing his World Snooker Championship match against John Higgins with a session to spare.
O'Sullivan actually led 6-2 and then 9-7 after the opening two sessions, resulting in the need for new travel arrangements, but Higgins did ultimately fight back to win 13-12 in a Crucible classic.
Higgins fired in three century breaks on Monday afternoon before holding his nerve to get over the line in the decider, booking his place in the quarter-finals and ending O'Sullivan's bid for a record-breaking eighth world title.
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"I've got to be honest with you, I had a flight booked home early this morning because I wasn't sure if I'd get to the third session before the match started," O'Sullivan said afterwards.
"I was realistic about my chances. I haven't been in any big matches for two years.
"Playing the top boys in a real pressure situation now, I knew it was going to kind of expose me in some sort of way.
"I was really shocked that I was able to make a game of it, to be honest with you."
The previous FIVE times O'Sullivan and Higgins clashed at the Crucible, whoever won became champion!
2026: Last 16 Higgins 13-12 O'Sullivan ?
2022: SF O'Sullivan 17-11 Higgins - O'Sullivan 🏆
2011: QF Higgins 13-10 O'Sullivan - Higgins 🏆
2007: QF Higgins 13-9 O'Sullivan - Higgins 🏆
2001: F O'Sullivan 18-14 Higgins - O'Sullivan 🏆
1998: SF Higgins 17-9 O'Sullivan - Higgins 🏆
1996: QF O'Sullivan 13-12 Higgins - Stephen Hendry 🏆
It was Higgins who looked the shakier of the the two 50-year-old's in the early stages of another memorable clash between the members of snooker's famed 'Class of '92'.
Higgins twice trailed by five in the second session of their last-16 meeting - falling behind 8-3 and 9-4 - before winning three in a row to cut the gap to only two frames heading into Monday.
The four-time world champion picked up where he left off, extending his streak to six frames to earn the lead as he fired in three centuries en route to completing one of the most memorable wins of his career.
"It's got to be up there," Higgins said. "I'm just delighted I came to the party in the third session, because after the first two sessions, how I was only 9-7 behind, I'll never know. Ronnie was by far the better player.
"The atmosphere was incredible. I'll be honest, the ovation we got walking in there, it threw me.
"I just felt like I was like a rabbit in the headlights a little bit, and I think Ronnie could thrive off that and just settled down straight away."
O'Sullivan's chances of regaining the ascendency on Morning afternoon took an early hit when he broke down on a mid-range red in the opening frame and Higgins showed he was up for the fight by taking the frame with a break of 58.
Successive centuries shunted the Scot in front for the first time at 10-9, but O'Sullivan slugged straight back with a coolly-dispatched 62 to haul level, before a brilliant 93 with the black out of commission suggested the favourite was back on course for victory.
Higgins responded with his third century of the session and the pair split breaks in excess of 80 to set up a nerve-racking decider. Both had early chances but it was Higgins who grasped his at the second attempt to record a famous win.
O'Sullivan insisted he was "shocked" to have taken it to the brink, adding: "When I was 6-2 up after the first session, I said to my mate 'I can't work this out'. I felt like I played okay, and 9-7 up after two sessions, I thought, 'okay, cool'.
"But John played great today and I tried to hang onto him. I just couldn't get the job done.
"I had a chance in the last and was probably a little bit unlucky going into the pack. I left myself a difficult red and I missed. What can you do?"
