O’Sullivan breezes through to set up Higgins tie

April 22, 2026 No Comments

O’Sullivan breezes through to set up Higgins tieImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Ronnie O’Sullivan last won the World Snooker Championship in 2022, aged 46ByMichael EmonsBBC Sport journalist at the Crucible Theatre, SheffieldPublished22 April 2026, 14:17 BST40 Comments

Updated 31 minutes ago

Ronnie O’Sullivan quickly wrapped up victory over China’s He Guoqiang at the World Championship to set up a mouth-watering last-16 tie against four-time winner John Higgins.

Seven-time world champion O’Sullivan, 50, will now play another member of snooker’s fabled ‘Class of 92’, which also includes Higgins, 50, and 51-year-old Mark Williams – after the trio turned professional in 1992.

The last-16 tie against Higgins will start on Saturday evening (19:00 BST), with further sessions on Sunday evening and Monday afternoon (13:00 BST).

O’Sullivan is aiming to win eight world titles, an achievement which would move him clear of Stephen Hendry’s seven and set a new record for the modern era.

After yesterday’s first session, O’Sullivan led 7-2, and stretched that advantage with a break of 62 before potting nine reds and eight blacks at the start of the 10th frame.

But O’Sullivan – who made a break of 153 at the World Open last month, the highest break in professional snooker after a snooker left a free ball, which acted like a 16th red – then opted to play for blue instead of black.

A break of 113 took him one frame away from victory, which he sealed with another century break of 100 to clinch a 10-2 win.

Selby takes commanding lead over Jones

Four-time winner Mark Selby only needs three more frames to move into the last 16 after dominating the opening session to lead 7-2 against Wales’ Jak Jones.

England’s Selby, 42, has lost in round one at the Crucible in each of the past two years, but stormed into a 6-0 lead over the 2024 runner-up, helped by breaks of 67 and 50.

Jones took a tight seventh frame, before Selby regained his six-frame advantage thanks to a break of 78, although Jones ended well with a 90 break in the session’s final frame.

Their match will be played to a finish in the evening session, which begins at 19:00 BST.

Seventh seed Selby will aim to continue a remarkable run of results for the seeded players, with victories for all 13 to have finished their matches so far.

The World Championship has been played at the Crucible in Sheffield since 1977 but never before have all 16 seeded players advanced into the second phase.

Fifteen is the current record, set in 1983 and then matched in 1993. If Selby, Si Jiahui and Neil Robertson win, then all 16 of the qualifiers would have been eliminated in round one.

Watch: World Snooker Championship – Selby cruising against Jones, Wakelin beats Pullen
Vafaei ‘fighting to make Iranians proud’ at Worlds
World Championship 2026: Match schedule, BBC TV times & results

‘Ruthless’ Wakelin beats debutant Pullen, 20

Chris Wakelin, the 13th seed, made it 12 out of 12 seeded players to advance, sealing a 10-6 victory over 20-year-old English qualifer Liam Pullen.

Wakelin had led 5-4 overnight but Pullen, the world number 86 who battled through four qualifying rounds to qualify, made it 5-5 – only for Wakelin to win five frames in a row.

“I’m gutted for Liam as he is a really good friend of mine – we practice a lot and he is an incredible player,” reported 34-year-old Wakelin.

“A few years ago we first practiced together and he stuffed me and I thought ‘what a talent’. It’s a shame he didn’t fully show what he is capable of but he did really well and made a good account of himself.

“I’m really proud that he has been here for the first time and every single person in that arena wanted him to win, me included. But I’m here to win and sometimes you have to be ruthless.

“I watched the draw and I didn’t want to draw Stan [Moody] or Liam as they are my friends and I want them to win.”

Pullen, who lost his World Snooker Tour place last May, then regained it a few weeks later at Q School, reported he loved his first Crucible match.

“I really enjoyed every moment,” reported Pullen. “I felt at times I held my own and I thought it was a very tight 10-6. I loved it. You have got to have fun and I felt close to doing something but it didn’t quite click.”

In the afternoon session, Si Jiahui begins his match with Iran’s Hossein Vafaei.