Higgins downs O'Sullivan to reach final

Eurosport - Sat, 30 Jan 22:23:00 2010

John Higgins produced a solid display to defeat Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-4 and reach the final of the Welsh Open in Newport.

john higgins - 0

Higgins will face defending champion Ali Carter in the showdown after playing the more consistent snooker as O'Sullivan struggled to find his form late in the match.

The crowd were treated to some scintillating snooker early on as both players traded heavy blows with high scoring.

The first real chance of the opening frame fell to Higgins but a misjudgement of a narrow gap caused his run to end on 52. O'Sullivan needed no further invitation and he swiftly cleared the table with a 58 to steal.

The world champion continued his good scoring in the next frame and levelled the match with breaks of 42 and 48.

The Rocket gave an exhibition in cue-ball control in the next with a break of 81: the first 10 reds were all taken with blues as the black remained out of commission throughout.

The 34-year-old Scot bettered that in the next though as he compiled the highest break of the tournament with a 138 for a possible £2,000 bonus, surpassing Ding Junhui's 134.

Both players struggled to find their rhythm again after the intermission as surprising misses prevented them from gaining any momentum.

Higgins took a scrappy fifth frame though to lead for the first time after O'Sullivan rattled a pink in the jaws of the corner pocket.

Normal service was resumed in the next as O'Sullivan hit a 72 following a terrific long red and moved back in front at 4-3 with a 95-clearance.

The 34-year-old from Essex looked on his way to taking the next frame with another sizeable contribution but stuck on the cluster of reds on 45. Higgins needed a second chance after The Rocket surprisingly missed to the centre but a 55 clinched the frame.

A fluked red helped Higgins early on in frame nine and the Scot capitalised on an error-strewn frame by O'Sullivan to move within a frame of victory.

O'Sullivan was unlucky to go in-off from a fine cut in the next and Higgins seized his chance with a 68 to seal a place in the final.

Welsh Open: Sunday 1.30pm LIVE on British Eurosport 2  and Eurosport Player.

Geraint Williams / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 16 of 16

Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated
  1. Ronnie is the best thing in snooker. Many people watch­ snooker just because of him! There is magic when he is­ around the table! He is so entertaining, talented and­ amazing as NO OTHER player at the moment is. There is­ no need of words to prove this-the biggest crowd of­ spectators gathers when Ronnie plays-and it says it­ all!

    From Galina, on Thu 4 Feb 1:32
  2. John Higgins is the best player in the world. He is a­ credit to the sport. O;Sullivan is an­ overhyped,ugly,big nosed,selfish,illiterate.

    From 6 units a day, on Tue 2 Feb 12:43
  3. Sullivan is an entertaining player Higgins is a­ miserable moron you can hear by the reaction of the­ spectaters who the crowd support not just a few­ scottish bigots. If ronny decides to retire snooker­ will be the loser they all need to be more entertaining­ . What I do not admire is when a player pots a red­ returns to the baulk end and cowardly snookers his­ oponent behind a colour.
    Donuts Mablethorpe

    From Donald, on Tue 2 Feb 8:37
  4. happy to see Higgins win ... he's a true gent and­ seems like a genuinely nice person.

    From Nerdhan, on Tue 2 Feb 6:07
  5. snooker without ronie is like golf without tiger

    From xristkos, on Tue 2 Feb 5:22
  6. Ronnie is the best player in the world. Its like any­ game it depends on luck and the fall of the ball.
    John­ Higgins was just lucky on the night. Ronnie is a much­ better looking guy anwyay.

    From Bernie, on Tue 2 Feb 5:09
  7. John Higgins is betetr than O'Sullivan. He is a­ mych better competitor and match player and is a much­ nicer person than miserable old Ronnie!

    From 6 units a day, on Mon 1 Feb 13:50
  8. @ Egidijus It actually seems so that Ronnie will retire­ soon.
    He doesn't enjoy his snooker , he doesn't­ have the motvation to fight in at match.

    From therocket60, on Mon 1 Feb 4:07
  9. It doesn't seem like Ronnie enjoys his game. If­ things don't go the way he wants, he gives up - and­ that's sad.

    I hope that after Rocket's­ retirement Selby will take his place and kick everyones­ butt :)

    From Egidijus, on Mon 1 Feb 3:29
  10. Higgins is the best!!

    From Udrea, on Mon 1 Feb 1:41
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Ronnie is the BEST! he will win the World Championship­ 'cuz he's the most talented player Ever!

    From Orsolya, on Sun 31 Jan 23:50
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Why Ronnie always lost to fatty Higgins?? :(

    From therocket60, on Sun 31 Jan 16:06
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    f.uc.kk Ronnie is the best :(

    From edvonone, on Sun 31 Jan 16:00
  14. lol @ Barcelona 2 0 Manchester United.
    You are the­ idiot.
    Did you notice that Ronnie always looks­ depressed and doesn't enjoy his snooker?
    Did you­ notice that he always lost his nerves at the key­ situations of a match.
    He doesnn't have the­ constancy to dominate his opponent.
    Look at the match­ today. He was in a good situation but still donate the­ victory to Higgins like in the grand prix and in the­ UK.
    A topplayer usually didn't do this.And if you­ discuss with me,please stop insulting me.thank you.­ this is just my opinion.

    From therocket60, on Sun 31 Jan 15:41
  15. Not surprised by this result
    O Sullivan plays at times­ like he has the Weight of the World on his­ Shoulders
    Over the years he has done things like Retire­ from Matches before the end and it makes a person think­ what could he have achieved as a snooker player if he­ did not do things like this.
    Also a lot is said about­ the general standard of snooker improving certainly­ players like Hendry, O'Sullivan, John Higgins and­ Mark Williams are brilliant.
    The point being however­ Hendry World Champion 7 times but something like 4 or 5­ of his victories have been against
    Jimmy White. My­ particular favourite player of the last 30 years­ certainly is Steve (The Nugget) Davis 6 times World­ Champ and in every final which he won he played a­ different player. Davis still has the game to win but­ his priorities have changed he is a FAMILY MAN

    From rblackhurst2004, on Sun 31 Jan 15:31
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Ronnie will retire soon and that means the only reason­ to watch the game will go away.
    It's so sad but the­ match today showed that Ronnie passed his best.He is­ not better than the rest of the Top 16.

    From therocket60, on Sun 31 Jan 15:16
Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account