Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins Shine in China: Dominant Victories Kick Off 33rd Year in Style

Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins began their 33rd year as professional snooker players in fine form, both securing victories at the CBSA Snooker Superstar Invitational in Hangzhou, China. The three-day exhibition event features seven top players, including world No. 1 Judd Trump, Jack Lisowski, and Xiao Guodong.

O’Sullivan carried his momentum from a flawless run at the Macau Masters over Christmas into the New Year. On New Year’s Day, the seven-time world champion defeated Ding Junhui 5-1 with a series of commanding breaks. The “Rocket” crafted contributions of 57, 100, 79, 52, and 56 to dominate the match. Ding managed to avoid a whitewash by clinching the fourth frame with a break of 70, but O’Sullivan proved too strong, wrapping up the contest decisively.

Meanwhile, four-time world champion John Higgins also showcased his class with a hard-fought 5-3 victory over fellow “Class of ’92” member Mark Williams. Higgins compiled breaks of 124, 86, 70, and a stunning 72 in the final frame to recover from a 62-0 deficit and secure the win. Williams had his moments, with notable breaks of 80 and 65, but it was Higgins’ trademark counter-clearance that sealed the match.

The action continues with O’Sullivan and Higgins set to clash in the evening session on Thursday. This will serve as a precursor to their campaigns at the prestigious Masters tournament in London starting January 12. Meanwhile, Williams will face Xiao Guodong on Friday afternoon, and Trump will take on Ding in a highly anticipated matchup.