O'Sullivan Opens Up Four-Frame Lead Against Higgins After First Session at World Snooker Championship

Ronnie O'Sullivan surged into a commanding position at the World Snooker Championship on Sunday, establishing a four-frame advantage over John Higgins after the first session of their semi-final clash at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. The seven-time champion displayed vintage form as he compiled breaks of 76, 89, and 112 during a dominant performance that left his opponent with a mountain to climb.

The match began with O'Sullivan taking the opening frame with a composed 76 break, immediately signaling his intent to advance to the final. Higgins responded briefly with a 68 break to level proceedings, but O'Sullivan then shifted gears, rattling off three consecutive frames before the interval. His 112 break in frame four showcased the devastating cue work that has made him the most decorated player in Championship history.

After the resumption, O'Sullivan continued his relentless pressure, adding two more frames to stretch his lead to 6-2. Higgins, a four-time world champion himself, managed to win the final frame of the session with a break of 54, but the deficit he faces appears almost insurmountable given O'Sullivan's current form. The Rocket has now won 13 of his last 15 frames against the Irishman across their last two meetings.

Speaking after the session, O'Sullivan remained characteristically understated: "John is never out of it. He's one of the greatest competitors the game has ever seen, and I expect a strong fightback tomorrow. I just need to focus on my own game and keep executing the shots."

The second session resumes on Monday afternoon, where Higgins will need to produce something special to overturn the deficit. History suggests it is possible – Higgins once recovered from 14-10 down to beat Stephen Hendry in a classic final – but against an O'Sullivan in this mood, such a revival seems unlikely. The winner will face either Mark Selby or Si Jiahui in the final, with that match still in its early stages.

The performance marks O'Sullivan's best start to a semi-final since 2008, when he defeated Higgins in the final. At 39, the Englishman shows no signs of slowing down and continues to chase an unprecedented eighth world title that would further cement his legacy as the greatest snooker player of all time.