John Higgins mounted a remarkable comeback to frustrate Ronnie O'Sullivan in a tense second session of their second-round match at the Crucible on Sunday night. The Scot won the final three frames to reduce the Rocket's advantage to two, trailing 9-7 after O'Sullivan had twice led by five frames.
O'Sullivan's Frustration Boils Over
O'Sullivan, a seven-time world champion, thumped the table in frustration after missing an early red in the pivotal final frame of the session. Higgins, drawing on decades of top-level experience, edged over the line to finish much the happier of the two players. The Scot never got going in the early stages but clawed out frame 14 despite fluffing an attempted escape from a snooker, then reeled in a 55-point deficit in the next before holding his nerve in an edgy last frame.
Wu Yize Leads Selby
In another intriguing clash, Wu Yize fashioned a 9-7 lead over four-time champion Mark Selby. Selby had threatened to overwhelm his opponent after firing successive centuries in the first two frames, but the 22-year-old Chinese player hit back to haul level at 4-4 after their opening session. Wu dominated upon their return in the evening, pulling clear at 9-6 before Selby chiselled out the final frame to stay within touching distance.
Zhao Xintong Advances
Defending champion Zhao Xintong moved closer to cracking the so-called 'Crucible Curse' by booking his place back in the quarter-finals with a 13-9 win over compatriot Ding Junhui. Zhao shrugged off evident nerves to build on a 9-7 overnight advantage despite losing an error-strewn, 46-minute opener. The 29-year-old capitalised on a series of misses by his opponent to pull away, a break of 108 in the penultimate frame helping seal a last-eight clash with Shaun Murphy.
"Today I think there was more pressure," Zhao told BBC Sport. "I know Ding didn't play very well in the last session but the pressure is very big. This year I just don't want to lose any match so it feels very different."
Trump Leads Vafaei
World number one Judd Trump inched closer to booking his place in the quarter-finals after establishing a 9-7 overnight lead in a pulsating contest against Iran's Hossein Vafaei. Resuming at 4-4, Trump struggled to get into his stride as his inspired opponent edged 7-6 in front, but Trump responded brilliantly with a century followed by further breaks of 74 and 94 to end their second session with a precious advantage.
Robertson Takes Advantage
Neil Robertson took advantage of a controversial moment in the 14th frame of his clash with Chris Wakelin to move four clear at 10-6 ahead of Monday's conclusion. Wakelin was well in the ascendency when he potted a long red, but a foul was called by referee Peggy Li who noticed him feather the yellow ball. Wakelin clearly disagreed with the call, but the decision stood after Li called for a replay, and Robertson capitalised to take the frame with a 65 break, before further breaks of 65 and 101 took him to the brink of his first last-eight appearance since 2021.
