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Class of 92 Dominates at World Snooker Championship
As discussions about emerging contenders intensify, the trio from the Class of 92 — Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Williams, and John Higgins — continue to assert their dominance at the World Snooker Championship currently taking place at the Crucible. On day eight of the tournament, all three veterans showcased their enduring skill and competitive spirit.
Despite numerous surprises leading up to this stage, these seasoned players remain resilient. Williams, aged 50, along with 49-year-olds O’Sullivan and Higgins, collectively hold a remarkable 14 world titles. The speculation looms: could this tally rise to 15 by next Monday?
Higgins faced a challenging match against the rising talent, Xiao Guodong, and emerged victorious in a nail-biting finish. After being tied at 12-12 late on Saturday, Higgins maintained composure to secure a 13-12 win, advancing him to face Williams in the quarter-finals.
Now ranked world No. 3, Higgins has had a stellar season, highlighted by his recent triumph in the prestigious Tour Championship. He expressed his elation about competing at the Crucible, stating, “The atmosphere here is irreplaceable. The pressure elevates your game, and the audience’s engagement is unmatched.”
Reflecting on his recent successes, Higgins stated, “These victories have bolstered my confidence. Yes, I still believe.” He was quick to praise his peers, saying, “It’s remarkable that we’re still at it, alongside Ronnie. We truly are special players.”
Williams secured his spot in the quarter-finals with a decisive 13-10 win over Hossein Vafaei. After a strong start, Williams extended his lead to 11-8 and, despite Vafaei’s efforts to close the gap, he sealed the match with a notable break of 115.
O’Sullivan quickly asserted his authority against Pang Junxu, concluding the first session of their match with a commanding 6-2 lead. He clinched the initial four frames before Pang responded with a century break of 119. However, O’Sullivan answered back, regaining a solid four-frame advantage as the session wrapped up.
The match between Higgins and Xiao proved to be a marathon, unable to resolve within the allocated time. As tensions mounted, Higgins rallied after the interval by winning two frames consecutively. Yet, Xiao’s determination brought the score to 12-11 just before time constraints kicked in.
On Saturday evening, Luca Brecel reminded spectators of his previous championship victory as he took a commanding 7-1 lead against Ding Junhui. Despite facing challenges recently, Brecel’s performance was dominant, leaving Ding struggling for responses.
Zhao Xintong, a favorite for this year’s championship, led fellow countryman Lei Peifan 10-6 after a successful 5-3 morning session. Meanwhile, Chris Wakelin, having already eliminated two strong contenders, awaits the winner in the quarter-finals.
Si Jiahui also made waves with a 5-3 lead over Ben Woollaston. Despite a tense moment where Woollaston, who previously knocked out Mark Selby, seemed poised for a comeback, Si ultimately sank the final pink to secure the frame and maintain his advantage.
Source
www.theguardian.com