Higgins crashes as Rocket blasts into last 16
JOHN HIGGINS’ quest for glory at the English Open came crashing down in the last 16 with defeat to Ronnie O’Sullivan.
The Wizard of Wishaw came out second best in a clash of the titans in Barnsley last night.
Four-time world champion Higgins only trailed when it mattered most in the Metrodome as he went down 4-3 to his oldest rival in a fitting decider – and victory means The Rocket is now just three wins from joining the Scot on 29 ranking titles – and pocketing the £70,000 top prize.
Higgins said: “I’m disappointed. It’s always enjoyable when you play Ronnie and you have to take your hat off to him for that opening red in the last frame.
“When he’s getting the long ones he’s really difficult to live with. I had a good chance at 3-2, if I potted that red I’d have backed myself to win the match from there.”
And O’Sullivan said: “When you play John you know you have to play really well and you automatically click into gear. We were both competing and playing well enough to win frames in one visit.”
Elsewhere, battling Scot Anthony McGill kept his title dream alive as he saw off promising Thai potter Akani Songsermsawad 4-3 to reach the last 16.
Mark Williams, the two-time world champion, was stunned 4-2 by flying Englishman Jack Lisowski while Stuart Bingham, who reached the European Masters final a fortnight ago, fell to a shock 4-3 loss to Iran’s Hossein Vafaei.