Snooker’s ‘Class of 92’ Continue to Dominate as O’Sullivan, Higgins, and Williams Advance to Quarter-Finals
The World Snooker Championship has reached the quarter-final stage, and the sport’s "Class of 92" continues to hold sway, with seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins, and Mark Williams all progressing to the last eight. The trio, who have 14 world titles between them, are showing no signs of relinquishing their grip on the sport, with O’Sullivan stating that a combination of hard competition and enduring happiness has enabled them to maintain their dominance.
According to The Guardian, O’Sullivan, 49, believes that the competitive spirit that drove him, Higgins, and Williams during the early part of their careers has been a key factor in their sustained success. "There was a big element of [competition] in the early part of our careers," he said. "If one did well the others wanted to do better. John was the first to win a world championship, then it was Mark, then me. You’re always wanting to keep up with them." As reported by The Guardian, O’Sullivan’s sentiments highlight the intense rivalry that has driven the "Class of 92" to achieve great things in the sport.
O’Sullivan’s quarter-final match against Si Jiahui got off to a flying start, with the Englishman taking a 6-2 lead after the first session. Si showed flashes of the form that took him to the semi-finals on his Crucible debut two years ago, but a missed black off its spot when he was on the verge of reducing the deficit to a single frame proved costly, as O’Sullivan cleared up and finished the session with a quickfire 121. As The Guardian notes, this victory has put O’Sullivan firmly in control of his quarter-final match.
Meanwhile, Higgins and Williams, who between them have seven world titles, are taking part in the oldest last-eight clash since Eddie Charlton beat a 65-year-old Fred Davis in 1979. Higgins, whose 50th birthday is two weeks after this year’s final, led 5-3 at the end of the first session, but Williams, who turned 50 in March, hit back strongly in the second session, taking four of the first five frames to move ahead. The Welshman opened with a run of 92, and although Higgins subsequently hit back, claiming the next two frames, Williams claimed the final one of the evening to bring the match back to 8-8, as reported by The Guardian.
The same publication also reports that former champion Luca Brecel is still in the running, albeit trailing 5-3 to Judd Trump, after winning the last two frames of the opening session, including a break of 128. Trump, who fired consecutive breaks of 106 and 110 in the fourth and fifth frames, is just one century away from matching Neil Robertson’s record of 103 centuries in a single season. Furthermore, Zhao Xintong is on the brink of reaching the semi-finals, having dominated the first two sessions of his clash with fellow qualifier Chris Wakelin, leading 12-4.
As noted by The Guardian, O’Sullivan believes that the "Class of 92" has been able to maintain their dominance due to their enduring love for the game. "I think we just love the game," he said. "We love playing, we love competing. Without it, you think, what would I do with my time? A lot of it is that as well." This sentiment is echoed by The Guardian’s report, which highlights the trio’s passion for snooker as a key factor in their sustained success. As the World Snooker Championship continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether O’Sullivan, Higgins, and Williams can continue to defy the odds and add to their tally of world titles. One thing is certain, however: the "Class of 92" remains a force to be reckoned with in the world of snooker.
In related news, The Guardian has reported on O’Sullivan and Brecel’s second-round wins in a quick Crucible session.
