El Clásico of Snooker | Ronnie O'Sullivan vs John Higgins | 2017 English Open L16

Between them, nine World Championship titles, 21 maximum breaks, 1,569 century breaks. Not for nothing is this Snooker's El Clasico. First played each other as professionals 23 years ago. Well, that's a first mistake and double kiss on the red. Higgins with a chance. Black goes. Probably screwed it a little bit. Eight. Nine. Sixty. Chance to go in front early. Seven. Twenty-two. Eight, please. How Sullivan played sensational Snooker. It's happened in three centuries, that match against Xiang Yong. A match which ended in very bizarre circumstances with a pitch invader. Yeah, so Sullivan could have took the red on that he played. Decided to play safe. Now, he could leave the cue ball short on this next red so he could open more reds up. And that's what he's played. Now, he can bring more reds into play. Well, that's not too bad. He had a bit of reverse side on the cue ball to take him towards the blue. Looks a little pacey. But he's got the one to the middle. Forty-four. Forty-five. He's just under hit that one, but the red just below the blue is okay to play for. Fifty. Just preparing himself mentally to give this one everything. It's missable. Fifty-one. Now, he doesn't need to go into those reds. There's enough loose ones for him to win the frame. Fifty-eight. It doesn't matter how good you are. When you're sat in your chair, nothing you can do about it. Fifty-nine. Sixty-five. Sixty-six. He needs this pink and Snooker's required. Seventy-two. Seventy-three. In a small group of players, Lewis Sullivan just cannot intimidate. Hans Selby, I guess, would be another. He looks in a mean mood, John Higgins. Eighty-one. Eighty-eight. Eighty-nine. Ninety-six. So, John Higgins is going to start with a century. One hundred and four. Higgins won the Indian Open recently. That took him second on the all-time ranking event winners list. One hundred and five. Twenty-nine. One ahead of O'Sullivan. One hundred and eleven. And still playing at the very top of his game. One hundred and thirteen. That is Ronnie O'Sullivan. One hundred and sixty. One hundred and twenty. It's quite incredible, really. One hundred and twenty-five. Overscrewed that one slightly. One hundred and thirty-one. What a great start. One chance it took. And he's made a total course of one hundred and thirty-eight. That's how it went. Sets the pattern for the evening. Scotland versus England. It's advantage, Scotland. John Higgins leads Ronnie O'Sullivan one-nil. Twenty-two. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Stay there. Stay there. No, we've got someone running into the arena. I was running. He's going to carry on. I'm not quite sure what she's doing. I'm not quite sure how she got in. Well, he's going to let her pop the black or have a go at it. This couldn't happen to anyone else, could it? Bit of practice needed, I think. So, a rather unusual end to the afternoon, if it will end. And Ronnie O'Sullivan books his place in the last sixteen of the English Open, despite that pitch invasion later on. He's had broke to 126, 127 and 129. I can't think it's quite said they didn't play the cue ball there. Players always play cue ball as close to the cushion as they can on the break off. Tap on the table from O'Sullivan. When you get two players as good as these two, the safety has got to be even more important than it is normally. Not to leave anything at all. Great shot. Unless he can see that red just behind the pink, he may be able to pot it. It's close. Great shot. He had a look to see if the red would go. Maybe play for the red behind the pink and clear that area. Sheer determination. The pink's the easier ball, but he can't seem to get to a red from the pink. And look at all the left-hand side on the cue ball, trying to bring some of the reds into play, maybe the black. He has a little smile to himself, because although he is on a red, it's difficult to get to a colour. If he plays the red into the left corner, that's missable. Yeah, that was missable. There was pressure on that. O'Sullivan has a chance. He deserved better from that good blue with all that side on the cue ball. He didn't play to hit the black, but it's turned out pretty good. Chance to get his arm going. Get a feel for this match. He's had five centuries in his last two matches. Two best of sevens. Well, this is an awkward table. He's brought those reds into play. Faulty. Easy safety shot he could play. This is tough. That wasn't easy. Well, the red, not too difficult, but getting on to a colour, it's a different problem. The two reds behind the black spot, stuff in the cue ball. That's why he's given this plenty of thought. Now it may be about the red and see if he can get a good kiss somewhere, because he can't avoid the reds. One. You can see the sheer determination here against his face when he's absolutely on it. Well, there's something happening in the audience. I think someone has just been let out. It can help to have a slight delay here. I think someone's been taken ill, actually, so there's going to be a slight delay here. I can tell you the security is just helping the gentleman, I think. Outside, maybe have a glass of water. Let's hope he's OK. He didn't look in a good way. He's in good hands now. Well, it was tight, the red. John Higgins, seven. It looked as though it would go. What a chance. Well, it couldn't be helped, obviously, what happened in the audience. Someone was taken ill, but obviously it did mean that Higgins had to wait for a minute or so. One. He was certainly on top, and I expected him to win the frame from there. Nine. Sixteen. Seven. Choice of reds to play for. Twenty-four. Twenty-five. He's thinking of playing for the red on the cushion, but he could play for any one of those four reds. Thirty-two. Thirty-three. He tried to go through the gap. This isn't as easy as it would have been had he gone through this gap. That's a great recovery shot. But it's going to have to go in and out of bought by eight. Let's try and miss the yellow. Come down for the red into the same pocket as the black. Oh, what a super shot that was on the pink. That was so difficult to play that shot. Forty-seven. Now a great chance. Forty-eight. Applause for frame ball. Well, this is what happened. Fifty-five. Trying to pinch a bit of the pocket. You could see how tight it was, that red, to go in there. Fifty-six. And what about that for a positional shot? He's in the three cushion in 61. Sixty-two. Sixty-eight. Seven. This is great stuff from both players. Seventy-three. And a little unfortunate that there was some disturbance in the crowd for John Higgins. He may have potted that red. We'll never know. Eighty-two. Moller-Sullivan has took these so well. They both bang up for this. Both producing excellent snooker already. He misses the black. Eighty-eight. Well, this one's sticking out. But the black doesn't go to the right corner. Oh, great shot. And you know he played that where the cue ball is. Coming straight down for these two reds above the black. He's come a little bit too far. May have to take the red to the middle. Five. Now he can get to the black from that red above the black. Six. Now if he could take the red into the same pocket. Could screw past the red. Just like that. In two shots he's got the black clear. And that's simply by playing for the right red. Of the original colour. Look at the way he screwed round two cushions there rather than stun. That's given him a chance of two reds the way he's played that shot. Most players would have just stunned off one cushion for the red. Oh, he's too high. Now, that was just a little bit of carelessness. And he hasn't been doing that. How expensive is it going to be? Just a lapse of concentration. Well. I don't know if Higgins is still suffering from that red he missed in the last rain. Straight back in. Straight back in with a really good shot. A positional shot. That wasn't easy either. Coming to the top side of the black like he did. Now, this is where the psychology of Snoopa comes in. Eight. Because Sullivan will be trying to make Higgins pay for that missed red. Nine. He knows that it could hurt him here. Fifteen. Six. Now, will he choose the blue or the black to go into the reds? Twenty-two. Looks like the black. Twenty-three. He's left a nice angle. And maybe if he catches the outside red. The one on the right. He'd open nicely. That's the one. But they haven't. He's got a long red to the balk corner. But this is the red that I suggested. But it didn't quite open as he wanted. Now, this is a really tough red to the balk corner. He doesn't want to let Higgins straight back in again. It wasn't far away. But it hasn't left anything easy for Higgins. Lots of left-hand side on the cue ball to check it back down the table. Well, it's close. If he tried to do that, he couldn't do it. Very unfortunate. But another chance for O'Sullivan. Now, how important is that going to be? Chance for Higgins to steal. Well, he's made some great clearances in his time. But there's nothing safe here. One. Now, is he on anything? Nine. Fourteen. Fifteen. Those two reds closest together. The lower one, the one nearest the black, will go to the left corner. That releases the other one. Twenty-two. Twenty-eight. Twenty-nine. Thirty-six. Thirty-seven. Now, he may well put the blue here. Forty-three. Easier to get to the last red. And if he's slightly too hard, which he is, he'll take the green. Well, we can see where this started. Forty-seven. Forty-eight. Fifty-three. Fifty-five. Fifty-eight. Sixty-two. Sixty-seven. Seventy-three. Seventy-eight. Two-one. Got very close to that middle pocket. But that's what he intended to do with the cue ball. And that was a problem, really. He was leaving this red to the right corner. He's trying to get the cue ball close to the cushion. There's no chance for him. Oh, a rare miss. Now, where can I finish? Black's tied up. Blue's tied up. There's a long way off this one. I think the black will go to the left corner. Judging by the red he's playing, it could go to the right corner. One. Now, he'd want it to go back onto its spot. He could play for the red just behind the black. Eight. Now, maybe give that red next to the blue a little nudge. Just to free the blue. Because he could be out of position if he does play it. And he's played it. But that's freed the two reds and the blue. Sixty. Two reds by the black will go to the right corner. He'd like to get on those two as quick as possible. Twenty. Twenty-one. Well, that's a delightful cannon he's just played there. Didn't need to play it. But it's just like watching a master at work. Or two masters at work. Thirty-six. Thirty-seven. Well, he won the United Kingdom Championship with a broken butt. I thought it was fractured, but I spoke to him earlier. He said it was broken. Forty-four. And that was a fantastic final with Judd Trump. Well, a few years ago, even when his cue was broken, shortly before the Masters, he got another one and just won the tournament. Ah, developed another two reds. He could have won the frame without those two reds. Now, he's got to be careful because if he does miss, the clearance is easier for Higgins. Doesn't look like he's missing, though. Fifty-six. Fifty-seven. It's been the odd ball missed, but there's the pot success, both in the nineties. So, another red and a colour. Sixty-two each. The best of three. Sixty-four. If you'd have told them when they turned pro as teenagers they'd still be going strong into their forties at the top of the game, they wouldn't have believed it. You don't at that age. But here we are. Seventy-one. Seventy-six. Seventy-seven. A little switch to left-handed. Seventy-nine. And still playing the cannon to the ground. Eight. And what a shot that was. Working her way to open those two reds on the right side cushion. Oh, so unfortunate. Seventy-four. And one scoring visit. It's a cracking match this, it really is, between two great champions. Well, that's a very good safety. OK, the red is close to that ball corner, but such a tough pot, and could be a frame loser if he misses it. So, an easy opener. To John Higgins. One. Five. Ten. Eleven. He's overdone it. Fifteen. And I chose to play it to ball corner. John Higgins. Fifteen. And hasn't left anything. Oh, he didn't want it to hit that angle. And he's left the red on. Six. Seven. Thirty-six points the lead. Forty. Fifty. Twenty-two. Twenty-three. Twenty-nine. Thirty. All upon that missed double from O'Sullivan. Thirty-five. Thirty-six. Forty-one. Yes, and that just makes me. I'll keep Ronnie sat in his seat. Well, point of no return. O'Sullivan can't afford to take anything reckless on. But may be forced into taking this red on. Oh, what a shot! If that hadn't gone in, he could have lost. What a great shot. Six. Amazing how he just switches to his left hand. That's a delicate little screw shot like that. Thirty. Forty. It's very risky to play for those two reds by the black. Couldn't finish out of position. That's what he's looking at. Is the reds that causing him problems at the moment? Well, that's absolutely perfect. Nine. It's not a gimme this pot. Screw to the red. To release the black. And he's in business. Well, he played poorly the shot of the match so far. Forget it initially. Twenty-seven. Every chance to take his two decide it. Twenty-eight. Thirty-five. Thirty-six. Very close to the red. Forty-three. OK. That's running. He's called himself on a foul here. He's called himself unfortunate. John Hiddins outsporting his own. Well, nobody else's sight. I'd like to see that one again. Here it is. Oh! Well, full marks to Ronnie O'Sullivan. Because nobody spotted it. It's hard to, but he felt it, of course, on two of his cues. Well, I don't think you get that in any other sport. What a great game this is. And great players that play it. And Ronnie O'Sullivan is up and running with another fantastic long red. Have another look at this. Again, if he misses it, it's over. Or could have been. Eight. Nine. So, won't need those three reds surrounding the pink. Sixty. Oh! Surprising miss. Well, O'Sullivan, sixty. Don't think he can believe it himself. Hasn't left anything easy for Higgins, though. Nothing easy, but this red is on. Oh, so close. And shouts of, come on, Ronnie. I'm sure he will. One. Yeah, rueful look on Higgins' face. O'Sullivan really just needs to get on this next red. Yes, Higgins knows. That was a really good chance. Four. So, this black is absolutely short. It's already one snooker needed, but the black. And we're going all the way. And you couldn't call it, could you? Both playing tremendously well. Both going for everything, trying to win the match. Look at all the side he had on the cue ball there. That's to get the cannon. Twenty-one. We've seen some terrific shot-making here from O'Sullivan. We've also seen some terrific sportsmanship from him when he owned up to the foul earlier on. Twenty-eight. Twenty-nine. Twenty-three. Twenty-four. Forty. Forty-two. Forty-five. Forty-nine. Fifty-four. Sixty. Higgins, three. Ronnie O'Sullivan, three. Back to you then, deciding frame. John Higgins to break. John Higgins and Ronnie O'Sullivan have played twelve previous deciding frames and won six each. So, they can't even be split on that. Here's another one. Three-three in Barnsley this evening. Whoever wins this frame is through to the quarterfinals of the English Open. John Higgins is led by the odd frame three times each time O'Sullivan has hit back. Cannot believe that these two are playing this standard of snooker at forty-two. It's quite amazing. Eight. Just lost the cue ball there in potting the black. Nine. Sixteen. Seven. Twenty-four. Now, has he been fortunate? Will this red go to the left middle? Certainly very tight. Yeah, well played. It looks a natural angle to play down for the red behind the black. Thirty. Thirty-one. It's all in his hands now. I think he played a cannon there to one of the reds and it didn't work out. He's left himself with a more difficult red than it should have been. Forty. Forty-five. Again, just gone a little too far. Comfort on the blue. This might not work out. Forty-nine. Now the red goes. Fifth. Again, a delightful cannon to that red. Leaves him on choice of two reds to the left corner. Fifty-six. Just a quick look at the scoreboard tells him a red and a black or a pink. We'll see him through to the next round. Sixty-four. Well, talk about a grandstand finish. In this decider. He's played great stuff himself. I mean, he can hold his head up high, he's played his part in a great match, but just had to sit this one out, this deciding frame. Yeah, didn't do anything wrong except break off. I suppose you could say he didn't get the cue ball close enough to the cushion. Seventy-five. What can you do when your opponent knocks in a red like O'Sullivan did and wins the frame from it? Well, Ronnie O'Sullivan has been away from the circuit in recent times, not played much this season, but he's back. And for the rest, this is an ominous sign. Eighty-three. He's produced great snooker to get to this stage, but to do it against John Higgins. Eighty-four. To finish off like this against John Higgins, that sends a message to the rest of the tour. Ninety. Can he finish now with a century? No, he can't. But a brace of 91 will do. He took it out in one visit. He's beaten John Higgins by four frames to three.