Ronnie O’Sullivan fights back to level with John Higgins after opening session

Ronnie O’Sullivan rallied with two century breaks to draw level at 4-4 with John Higgins in their World Championship semi-final.

O’Sullivan trailed 3-0 as the Scot came out of the blocks fast at the Crucible, but the world number one produced clearances of 116 and 107 on his way to restoring parity.

Both players had opportunities to open their account in the first two frames, but it was O’Sullivan who needed extra time to settle, and Higgins held his nerve with a decisive 50 break to take a 2-0 lead.

Ronnie O'Sullivan makes his second century of the night to level the scores at the end of the session.The story continues tomorrow at 2:30pm...#ilovesnooker | @Betfred pic.twitter.com/LoAvHtwjb0

— World Snooker Tour (@WeAreWST) April 28, 2022

Higgins looked like compiling another frame-winning break in the third, but he missed a straightforward black before complaining that someone in the crowd had moved in his eyeline.

But O’Sullivan ran out of position after making 32 in reply, his frustration evident as he stamped his cue on the floor before missing a red that would cost him dear.

O’Sullivan, however, was now starting to find his groove.

A 70 break gave him impetus before the interval and scores of 45 and 54 in the next cut the deficit to one frame.

O’Sullivan capitalised on a safety error to produce his first century of the match before Higgins stopped the rot to secure a close penultimate frame on the pink.

But O’Sullivan was not to be denied and ensured he would go into Friday’s second session level with another superb century.

In the other semi-final, Judd Trump dominated the early stages to take a commanding 7-1 lead over Mark Williams.

Trump’s long potting was a constant theme of a scrappy opening session as