'something Special' - O'sullivan & Higgins Renew Rivalry

In a genuinely singular communicative of difficult work, endurance, talent and dedication, nan brace are still astatine nan apical of nan athletics 3 decades connected and will spell head-to-head successful nan past 16 connected Saturday.

Thirty years connected from that first memorable meeting, O'Sullivan has 7 world titles, Higgins has four, some having agelong cemented their positions arsenic 2 of nan top players nan athletics has ever seen.

"We merit a awesome pat connected nan back," added Higgins, who admitted he ne'er thought he would still beryllium playing truthful good astatine this age.

Higgins and O'Sullivan are some now 50, while they are joined successful nan past 16 by nan 3rd personnel of snooker's fabled 'Class of 92', pinch 51-year-old Mark Williams still successful contention for a 4th title.

O'Sullivan holds nan grounds for being nan oldest world champion aft his astir caller occurrence 4 years ago, aged 46, but that could beryllium beaten successful nan adjacent week and a half.

After that first gathering successful 1996, Higgins hit O'Sullivan 17-9 successful nan 1998 semi-finals connected his measurement to his first title, earlier nan Rocket sewage his revenge, winning 18-14 successful nan 2001 last for his first championship.

Higgins past gained 13-9 and 13-10 wins successful nan quarter-finals of 2007 and 2011 respectively, earlier O'Sullivan won their astir caller Crucible tie, 17-11 successful nan 2022 semi-finals.

They person played six times astatine nan celebrated Sheffield theatre, pinch 3 wins apiece.