Ronnie O’Sullivan extended his lead over Si Jiahui to 6-2 after the first session of their World Snooker Championship quarter-final at the Crucible, showcasing why the so-called “Class of 92” continues to be a dominant force in snooker. The 49-year-old, who has already clinched seven world titles, was in excellent form, taking control early in the match. O’Sullivan, alongside John Higgins and Mark Williams, is one of the veteran players in the sport, and together they have accumulated 14 world championships. Despite the growing competition from younger players, these three continue to show their exceptional skills, proving they are still capable of keeping their younger counterparts at bay.
Reflecting on his long and successful career, O’Sullivan attributed his perseverance to both the fierce competition within the “Class of 92” and a deep love for the game. He acknowledged that in the early stages of their careers, there was always an element of rivalry between him, Higgins, and Williams, each player striving to outdo the others. This competitive spirit was a driving force for O’Sullivan, as he chased after the success achieved by his peers. Over the years, however, the intensity of this rivalry has subsided, and the trio now continue to compete out of passion rather than the need to outperform each other. Despite the increasing presence of younger players, O’Sullivan’s enthusiasm for snooker keeps him going, saying that without the sport, he would be uncertain of how to spend his time.
In the match itself, Si Jiahui struggled to maintain the form that had taken him to the semi-finals during his Crucible debut two years ago. Although he managed to level the score at 1-1 with a century and made a brief recovery from a 4-1 deficit, a crucial mistake on a black ball cost him dearly. When Si had the opportunity to narrow O’Sullivan’s lead to just one frame, a missed black off its spot allowed O’Sullivan to capitalize, finishing the session with a powerful break of 121 to end the first day with a commanding lead.
Meanwhile, in the other quarter-final between John Higgins and Mark Williams, the match was evenly poised at 8-8 after two sessions. The two veterans, who collectively hold seven world titles, are competing in one of the oldest last-eight clashes in snooker history. Higgins, who will turn 50 in a couple of weeks, had led 5-3 after the first session. However, Williams, who celebrated his 50th birthday earlier this year, mounted a strong comeback, claiming the last two frames of the opening session and winning four of the first five frames after the break. A break of 104 in the second session was a highlight of Williams’ resurgence. Despite Higgins hitting back with two frames of his own, Williams won the final frame of the evening to level the match.
Former World Champion Luca Brecel managed to keep up with Judd Trump in their quarter-final, reducing the deficit to 5-3 by winning the last two frames of the opening session, which included a break of 128. Trump, however, looked in imperious form, knocking in breaks of 106 and 110 in consecutive frames to take control of the match. He is also on the verge of setting a new record, as he needs just one more century to match Neil Robertson’s record of 103 centuries in a single season.
In another quarter-final, Zhao Xintong is closing in on a semi-final spot after dominating the first two sessions against Chris Wakelin. The Chinese player, returning from a 20-month ban for his involvement in a betting scandal, has looked strong throughout the match. After winning the first session 6-2, Zhao increased his lead to 12-4 at the end of the second session, leaving Wakelin with a mountain to climb. Zhao is now just one frame away from a spot in the semi-finals.
