Ronnie O’Sullivan was left furious during his World Snooker Championship match against John Higgins. O’Sullivan was facing Higgins in the round of 16 match at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, with a place in the quarter-final up for grabs.
As the seven-time world champion attempted a red into the top corner pocket, O’Sullivan’s effort narrowly missed, which allowed Higgins back into the frame.
After O’Sullivan missed the pot, the Rocket was visibly unhappy as he slammed his hand down on the side of the table.
The miss would prove costly, as Higgins eventually went on to win the frame and reduce the deficit to 9-7 heading into Monday’s sessions.
Former world champion John Parrott reflected on the final frame that was won by Higgins, explaining the importance that it could play in the match.
“A brilliant final frame and what a session of snooker that was – full of tension,” Parrott told BBC Sport.
“Both players had chances but John Higgins just refused to go away.”
Six-time world champion Steve Davis also reacted to the final session between O’Sullivan and Higgins, particularly the standard that both players showed in the match.
“The standard dropped tonight, but isn’t it amazing that when it gets worse sometimes it can be more exciting because of the unexpected misses,” Davis told BBC Sport.
Of O’Sullivan’s loss of temper, he said: “All of a sudden Ronnie O’Sullivan bashes the table with frustration, what a boost for John Higgins to know the other guy is feeling it as well.”
The winner of the match between O’Sullivan and Higgins will go on to face either Neil Robertson or Chris Wakelin in the quarter-final at the Crucible later in the week.
Robertson currently has a 10-6 lead over Wakelin after Sunday’s afternoon session and will go into Monday’s sessions as the favourite to reach the quarter-final.
In the other match taking place in the evening session, Wu Yize established an 8-6 lead over four-time world champion Mark Selby. The winner of this match would take on either Judd Trump or Hossein Vafaei in the quarter-final, with that match currently 9-7 in Trump’s favour heading into Monday.