Hard competition and enduring happiness are the reasons why snooker’s ‘Class of ’92’ have continued to hold the sport’s new generations at bay, according to seven-times world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan.
The 49-year-old eased into a 6-2 lead after the first session of his Crucible quarter-final against Si Jiahui on Tuesday while John Higgins slugged out a 5-3 advantage over Mark Williams.
The trio boast 14 world titles between them and and few would dare bet against that number increasing as they continue to cut a swathe through the draw in Sheffield.
“There was a big element of (competition) in the early part of our careers,” said O’Sullivan. “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.
“I think that stopped a long time ago. We keep going as it is. I’m not sure how much longer we can keep going on for, though. There are so many young players coming through.
“I think we just love the game. 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.”
O’Sullivan found it all too easy to build up a commanding lead over Si, who showed few signs of the form that had swept him to the semi-finals on his Crucible debut two years ago.
Si did fashion a century to pull level at 2-2 and rallied again from 4-1 down, but a missed black off its spot when he stood on the verge of reducing the deficit to a single frame cost him dear, as O’Sullivan cleared up and finished the session with a quickfire 121 to put himself firmly in control.
Former champion Luca Brecel clung onto Judd Trump’s coat-tails by winning the last two frames of the opening session –
Read more on breakingnews.ie
breakingnews.ie