TNT Sports experts say Ronnie O'Sullivan looks 'bang on it' and is frontrunner for world title after superb opening session against John Higgins
Published 25/04/2026 at 23:52 GMT+1
React to this story
Alan McManus believes that Ronnie O'Sullivan is the favourite to win the World Championship if he can maintain his fantastic form from the opening session of his second-round clash with John Higgins.
'What a shot' - O'Sullivan pots delightful red
Video credit: TNT Sports
The Rocket stormed into 6-2 lead against his fellow ‘Class of ‘92’ member at The Crucible on Saturday evening, moving one step closer to a record-breaking eighth World Championship title.
The action will resume at 19:00 UK time on Sunday evening and Higgins can count himself lucky to not be 7-1 down after O'Sullivan missed a simple pink in a closely-fought second frame.
McManus insists that the 50-year-old will be the favourite to win the tournament if he can keep up this sort of form.
”In my opinion, if he plays like that, he is the frontrunner for the title,” the TNT Sports expert said.
”We obviously talk all night off camera and Jim [Jimmy White] made a brilliant observation - Ronnie is being super careful when the exchanges are going on.
”He is being careful, and then of course when he gets his chance and finds his rhythm, he runs away. That is some combo to have.”
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/04/25/image-9a0d42c6-fd94-4c48-85ee-87fb713b8092-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
'Can you take your phone down please' - O'Sullivan has crucial shot interrupted by fan
Video credit: TNT Sports
O'Sullivan produced a break of 86 to take the first frame, losing the second before another impressive visit of 82 got him over the line in the third.
He followed that with breaks of 137 and 95 before Higgins made it 4-2 in the sixth.
However, The Rocket finished the session 6-2 up after winning the final two frames.
McManus believes it could have been even worse for Higgins had he not had the rub of the green in the second frame.
”I just felt from early on that Ronnie O'Sullivan was right on it,” he said. ”Especially when he gets in close.
”I cast my mind back to last year against Zhao Xintong in the semi-final, I remember a blue that he missed into the middle. It was like he was hitting the ball sideways.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/04/25/image-d8ecd73d-3493-4429-b567-67e71b43705d-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
'Yes he can' - Ronnie O'Sullivan leaves simple pot on the black after phenomenal shot
Video credit: TNT Sports
”So the transformation of O'Sullivan is to his credit. 6-2 is about right, if there is any argument to be had, you could argue it would be 7-1.
”John has actually done OK to get out of there tonight because he was not there. He did not come to the party early on, Ronnie got about it.
”He [Ronnie O'Sullivan] did not start in scintillating form, but as the evening went on, he got better and better. John just was not really on it at all.”
- Williams responds to 'barber' and 'vision' jabs in Rob Walker intro
- 'Just like O'Sullivan' - Ding names snooker star who will 'take everything over'
White echoed McManus’ praise after being impressed by the level of O'Sullivan’s performance.
”Ronnie is the best frontrunner this game has ever seen when he settles,” said White.
”He is so good anyway, as we know. He makes the balls pop. That shows that he is playing fantastic stuff and scoring.
”He did look a bit nervous in the first couple of frames, but from 3-1 up onwards, he looked bang on it. He looks like he is cueing fantastically.”
Barry Hawkins beat Mark Williams 13-9 in the other match taking place during Saturday’s evening session.
You can watch every day of the 2026 World Snooker Championship live on TNT Sports. It is available both live and on-demand on HBO Max
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement
