SHEFFIELD: The six-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan defeated the four-time champion, John Higgins, in the semi-final of the ongoing World Snooker Championship, here on Saturday.
In an epic semi-final between the two players from the Class of 92′, the English cueist Ronnie emerged victorious as he sealed a comprehensive 17-11 victory over Higgins in the Best of 33.
The eventful second semi-final rolled into action with Higgins taking off flamboyantly with a three frames advantage. Ronnie, on the other hand, was quick to respond as he soon levelled the scores at 3-3 after the first six frames including a century in the sixth.
Higgins took the lead in the seventh frame, but Ronnie came back to tie the game and then went on to lead 5-4 after sinking back-to-back centuries.
The see-saw battle between the two veterans continued as they were both tied up 6-6 after 12 frames. The English potter then pulled ahead 10-6 by claiming four consecutive frames and pushed Higgins on the backfoot.
For the next six games, the two cueists engaged in another tug of war, each winning three frames to bring the score to 13-9. Ronnie converted his century in the 19th frame into a hat-trick as he captured a couple of more frames to go within two frames of clinching the match.
With Ronnie just two frames shy of winning, Higgins attempted to retaliate as he claimed the 25th frame but only for the Rocket to claim the next one and go within one frame. The next two frames followed the same procedure and Ronnie beat Higgins 17-11 to advance to his eighth Crucible final.
The 46-years-old is now just one win away from levelling the record of Stephen Hendy for winning the most World Championship – seven.
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