Table-thumping Ronnie O’Sullivan saw his dreams of a history-making eighth World Championship shattered despite the best efforts of his celebrity pals.
UFC fighter Paddy Pimlett and Liverpool defender Milos Kerkez were at the Crucible roaring on the Rocket during his clash of snooker heavyweights with oldest rival John Higgins.
But it was Wizard of Wishaw Higgins, who had trailed 9-4, made three centuries in five frames en route to a memorable 13-12 second-round win — 30 years on from the prolific potting pair’s first Crucible meeting.
Frustrated O’Sullivan, who punched the table twice during the match, said: ‘If John plays like he did in the last session then he has a chance of winning the Championship.
‘I had my chance in the decider. I went into the pack, left myself a difficult red, I would have liked my hand on the table and then you never know, but I probably wasn’t the better player across the match anyway.
‘I felt all right. I’m enjoying my game, I feel like I’m in a much better place with my game this last month than I have been in the previous three years.
‘I just missed too many key balls, too many important balls which you can’t do.
‘This game is about playing well under pressure, there were some pressure times out there and I got tight. Maybe that’s because I haven’t won a tournament for about two and a half years.
‘I haven’t competed in any matches like that except against Neil [Robertson] in the final [of the Saudi Arabia Masters, which Robertson won 10-9].
‘It was a little bit of new territory for me again. I just have to be grateful for what I’ve got.’
Higgins punched the air in delight after completing a fine comeback.
The four-time world champion said: ‘I eventually came to the party. That was brilliant.
‘But listen, I thought Ronnie played in about the balls, that was the best I’ve ever seen him hit the ball. He was cueing it so well.
‘I thought [I had him] when I went 10-9 up. But the next two frames, the breaks that he made were incredible. It’s just incredible. You’re sitting there and you’re watching, and you’re admiring it, because you’re just saying, it’s incredible. But I was still feeling confident that if I get in, I could have a chance. And then I’ve hit him with two good frames.
Ronnie O’Sullivan exits the Crucible arena after his second-round defeat
…while it’s joy for four-time champion Higgins, who reaches a 20th Crucible quarter-final
‘It’s only the second round. That’s the way I was looking at it. It’s a great match, but second round…this is how tough this tournament is.’
After resuming for the last session 9-7 up, O’Sullivan quickly saw his overnight lead evaporate as Higgins hit breaks of 59 and 118.
Higgins led for the first time in the match with a second successive century of 128.
The Rocket stopped the rot with a run of 63 and led 11-10 after a further visit of 93.
Higgins levelled once more with a third ton, this time 111, and moved 12-11 up with an 88.
O’Sullivan forced a fitting decider with a break of 81, but it was Higgins who held his nerve with a match-winning visit of 49.
