John Higgins battled back from a 9-4 deficit to score a memorable 13-12 victory over Ronnie O’Sullivan and reach the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship. World No. 1 Judd Trump sent off by Hossein Bafai, heading into finals match
Last updated: 27/04/26 23:48
Ronnie O’Sullivan loses to John Higgins in a final frame thriller at the World Snooker Championship
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s bid for a record-breaking eighth Crucible title came to an end as John Higgins pulled off a stunning comeback victory at the World Snooker Championship and world number one Judd Trump was eliminated by first-time quarter-finalist Hossein Bafai.
O’Sullivan twice led by five frames but lost six frames on bounce in the final two sessions, while Higgins hit a triple century on Monday and crossed the line in the decider to seal one of the most famous victories.
A stunned O’Sullivan appeared frustrated as he pounded the table midway through the penultimate session on Sunday night, but his fellow 50-year-old belatedly rallied to take a 9-4 deficit and end the night just two frames behind.
Higgins celebrates defeating O’Sullivan
O’Sullivan had the first chance to extend his lead on Monday, breaking with a mid-range red in the first frame and Higgins relenting, taking the frame with a break of 58 and then reeling in centuries to take his first win at 10-9.
Higgins’ streak of consecutive frame wins ended in the next frame as O’Sullivan calmly responded with a break to hole level with a 62 before scoring a stunning 93 at Blackout to suggest the favorite was back on track for victory.
But nothing could stop the Scotsman. He fought back with his third century of the session to tie the score again at 11-11, scoring a break of 88 to move within the margin of victory.
O’Sullivan forced a decisive opportunity with an 81 break, but Higgins’ attack was not denied.
2026: Last 16 Higgins 13-12 O’Sullivan ?
2022: SF O’Sullivan 17-11 Higgins – O’Sullivan 🏆
2011: QF Higgins 13-10 O’Sullivan – Higgins 🏆
2007: QF Higgins 13-9 O’Sullivan – Higgins 🏆
2001: F O’Sullivan 18-14 Higgins – O’Sullivan 🏆
1998: SF Higgins 17-9 O’Sullivan – Higgins 🏆
1996: QF O’Sullivan 13-12 Higgins – Stephen Hendry 🏆
Ronnie O’Sullivan told BBC Sport: “John played well and deserved the win. If he continues to play like he did in that session, he has a chance to win the championship.”
“I got into the pack and left a difficult red in the last frame, but in any case I probably wasn’t the best player in the match.
“I’ve been enjoying my game this month and feel like I’m in a better place than I have been in years, but I missed too many important balls.
“There was pressure there and I was a little nervous. Maybe it’s because I haven’t won a tournament in two and a half years or haven’t played in those types of matches in a while.”
“This is a bit of new territory for me and I have to appreciate what I have and build on it.”
O’Sullivan and Higgins shake hands after the match.
“Finally came to the party! It was great. After the first session I wasn’t too disappointed,” said Higgins, who is seeded fifth in the tournament.
“I know my cue ball wasn’t great, and when you’re playing with Ronnie, his cue ball can be pinpoint and demoralizing. But I was down 6-2, so I told my family that if we could win the next two frames, we had a chance. That’s all I was focused on.”
🏆 7-time world champion
🏆 8x British Champion
🏆 Win the Masters 8 times
🏆 41 ranking titles
⭐️ 1,320 century break
⭐️Up to 17 breaks
⭐️Highest break: 153
⏳ Fastest maximum break of 5’08”, undefeated for 29 years
🐐 Best ever
President Trump’s hopes of winning a second world title continue despite early withdrawal
Buffai scored a famous victory in the final spot match on Monday night, but Trump suffered a crushing defeat in the second round in Sheffield.
Judd Trump eliminated from World Snooker Championship
Like Higgins, Buffai fell behind 9-7 overnight and then changed styles when it mattered, crossing the line with breaks of 106 and 91.
Trump’s wait for a second world title continues, but despite being considered the heavy favorite, he squandered countless chances, including a 25-point lead in the decider.
“Tonight’s session was disappointing,” President Trump said. “I think we struggled a little bit, but we improved after being down 11-10 and had a great chance at the end, but we lost the place. That summed up my season.
“We had good chances all season and we didn’t take them. It hurts, but we had chances and there’s nothing to be angry about. I just wasn’t good enough.”
After the win, Vafai said, “I was born for this situation.
“I enjoyed every moment. If you don’t take an opportunity like this, you’ll never become world champion. Every day, the Crucible trophy lives in your head for free.”
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Buffai will next face rising Chinese star Wu Yize, who also contributed to an upset day by defeating four-time champion Mark Selby 13-11.
Selby subsequently criticized the “horrible” conditions at the Crucible table and branded his own performance “pathetic”.
“It certainly felt like the worst conditions I’ve experienced here at the World Championships,” he said.
“That’s not why we lost that game, but coming into a tournament that’s the pinnacle of our sport, we thought the conditions were going to be really good and it wasn’t, which is unfortunate.”
Former champion Neil Robertson booked his place in the last eight with a 13-7 win over Chris Wakelin.
