Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins, two of snooker's greatest players, are set to renew their rivalry at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield this Saturday evening. The last-16 match promises to be a thrilling encounter between members of the legendary 'Class of 92', with O'Sullivan having won the World Championship seven times and Higgins four times.
A Complicated Friendship
Despite sharing the baize for over three decades, their relationship has been far from straightforward. Speaking last week, O'Sullivan admitted he is not particularly close with Higgins or fellow Class of 92 member Mark Williams. 'I don't really get close to anyone on the snooker circuit, because I don't really hang around tournaments,' O'Sullivan told TNT Sports. 'No one sees me. I'd rather be down the gym or go running, or go to nice restaurants, while a lot of the players hang out with each other.'
Past Controversies
Tensions flared in 2021 when O'Sullivan advised young people against taking up snooker, calling it a 'sexy sport' that had fallen behind others. Higgins reacted strongly, calling the comments 'disgraceful' and 'dreadful for someone as good as that to sit there and say that.' Higgins has since expressed concerns about the future of Scottish snooker, suggesting it will be difficult to produce another world champion from Scotland.
Moments of Respect
Despite past disagreements, there have been moments of mutual respect. When O'Sullivan withdrew from the 2025 Masters on medical grounds, Higgins sent a touching message: 'Gutted that I wasn't playing Ronnie... But listen, his health is more important if he is going through some tough times just now. I just hope that he gets better.'
As they prepare to face off once again, the snooker world watches with anticipation, knowing that their complex history adds an extra layer of intrigue to an already compelling match.
