Ronnie O’Sullivan was left visibly frustrated during his World Snooker Championship match against John Higgins at the Crucible
22:52, 26 Apr 2026Updated 22:57, 26 Apr 2026
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s temper flared at the Crucible(Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
Ronnie O’Sullivan was left visibly frustrated during his World Snooker Championship clash against John Higgins. The seven-time World Champion was taking on Higgins in the last-16 encounter at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, with a quarter-final berth on the line.
O’Sullivan had stormed into a 6-2 lead heading into the evening session, but watched his advantage whittled down to three frames as Higgins clawed it back to 9-6 going into the final frame of the night.
As O’Sullivan attempted a red into the top corner pocket, his effort agonisingly missed, handing Higgins a lifeline back into the frame. Following the missed pot, the Rocket made no attempt to hide his frustration, slamming his hand down on the side of the table.
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The miss proved to be a costly one, as Higgins went on to clinch the frame and narrow the gap to 9-7 heading into Monday’s final sessions.
In the BBC‘s analysis of the incident six-time world champion Steve Davies said: “All of a sudden Ronnie O’Sullivan bashes the table with frustration, what a boost for John Higgins to know the other guy is feeling it as well.”
Fellow ex-pro Stephen Hendry then added: “He has just not looked the same player tonight, Ronnie. He has not had that look in his eye.
“Last night he just looked so intense, he looked so focused.”
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Another former world champion in John Parrott reflected on the final frame secured by Higgins, highlighting at the significance it could have on the outcome of the match.
“A brilliant final frame and what a session of snooker that was – full of tension,” Parrott told BBC Sport.
“Both players had chances but John Higgins just refused to go away.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan during his match against John Higgins at the World Snooker Championship(Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
Six-time world champion Davis also weighed in on the final session between, praising the exceptional quality both players brought to the table. “The standard dropped tonight, but isn’t it amazing that when it gets worse sometimes it can be more exciting because of the unexpected misses,” he said.
Whoever triumphs in the O’Sullivan versus Higgins contest will subsequently face either Neil Robertson or Chris Wakelin in the quarter-final at the Crucible later this week.
Robertson holds a commanding 10-6 advantage over Wakelin following Sunday’s afternoon session and will head into Monday’s play as the clear favourite to secure his quarter-final spot.
In the other evening session fixture, Wu Yize grabbed an 9-7 lead over four-time world champion Mark Selby. The victor of that encounter would then face either Judd Trump or Hossein Vafaei in the quarter-final, with Trump currently holding a 9-7 lead heading into Monday’s play.
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