In a very exceptional story of onerous work, endurance, expertise and dedication, the pair are nonetheless on the high of the game three a long time later and can go head-to-head within the final 16 on Saturday.
Thirty years on from that first memorable Crucible assembly, O’Sullivan has seven world titles, Higgins has 4, each having lengthy cemented their positions as two of the best gamers the game has ever seen.
“We deserve an incredible pat on the again,” added Higgins, who admitted he by no means thought he would nonetheless be enjoying so effectively at this age.
Higgins and O’Sullivan are each now 50, whereas they’re joined within the final 16 by the third member of snooker’s fabled ‘Class of 92’, with 51-year-old Mark Williams nonetheless in rivalry for a fourth title.
O’Sullivan holds the document for being the oldest world champion after his most up-to-date success 4 years in the past, aged 46, however that may very well be overwhelmed within the subsequent week and a half.
After that first World Championship assembly in 1996, Higgins beat O’Sullivan 17-9 within the 1998 semi-finals on his option to his first title, earlier than the Rocket received his revenge, profitable 18-14 within the 2001 closing for his first success.
Higgins then gained 13-9 and 13-10 wins within the quarter-finals of 2007 and 2011 respectively, earlier than O’Sullivan gained their most up-to-date Crucible tie, 17-11 within the 2022 semi-finals.
They’ve performed six occasions on the well-known Sheffield theatre, with three wins apiece.
