I’ll always remember Ronnie crying when I beat him... I’ve seen it all & have nothing to fear
John relishes Ronnie reunion
FEARLESS Scot John Higgins has vowed he won’t be intimidated by Ronnie O’Sullivan in today’s clash of the snooker titans.
Double Masters champion Higgins produced a battling 6-5 win to dispense with 2018 Masters winner Mark Allen in his first-round match.
The Rocket delivered a stirring comeback from 3-0 and 5-3 down to dump out former winner Ding Junhui 6-5.
And the two green baize heavyweights will lock horns once again in a mouth-watering quarter-final showdown at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes
Higgins said: “I don’t fear Ronnie, I’ve seen it all from him over the years. I grew up with him and turned professional with him at the same time, so he doesn’t hold that aura over me.
“I just remember in one of our first tournaments I beat him. We were about 15 and he was crying with his dad.
“I was thinking, ‘Why are RIVALS Top talents in 2001 you crying with your dad when you’re 15 years old?’.
“I’ll always have a little bit of that in my head.”
Amazingly Higgins has not won the Masters, the sport’s most prestigious invitational tournament, for 15 years.
And, as it happens, it was the Rocket who he downed to win that last title.
The Wizard of Wishaw trailed 3-0 but produced a magical display to stun O’Sullivan with an epic 10-9 final-frame win, widely regarded as one of the best Masters finals.
And record seven-time Masters champion O’Sullivan said: “It was a very hard one to take. I can look back and say it was a great final but at the time it took me a couple of tournaments to get over.
“When there’s a clearance to be done, John’s the best in the business.”
The prolific potting pair have had many epic battles down the years , although O’Sullivan has had the better of the allconquering Scot in their most recent duels. But the world champ admitted without Higgins pushing him, he would never have scaled the memorable heights he has during his illustrious career. O’Sullivan, now 45 years old, said: “John’s been my greatest rival. We came up through the juniors, amateurs and the pro ranks together.
“He was my main motivation to get better because he was the best player I’d ever seen.
“I knew he was a better professional than me because of his all-round game so I knew I needed to work on stuff to try to compete with him.
“John’s an unbelievable player and you can never write John off – he’s incredible.”
Higgins knows he will need to be at his best to beat his fierce foes with a semi-final place at stake.
And the world No.5 said: “I’ll need to bring my A game, you always do against Ronnie.
“When I retire from the game it will be good to look back and say I’ve had a friendly rivalry with Ronnie.
“He’s a special player and the best player the game’s ever seen.
“He’s been the benchmark ever since I turned pro with him.
“Stephen (Hendry) was the main man at the time but I always thought Ronnie would take on that mantle and be the benchmark for everyone. It’s come to fruition.”