HIGGINS' ROCKET TRIBUTE AFTER WIN
By PA Sport Staff
John Higgins described Ronnie O'Sullivan's maximum break as "unbelievable" after
booking his own place in the last 16 with a hard-fought 10-7 win.
Higgins and Ian McCulloch were in their 14th frame as the Rocket closed in on
his 147 behind the big screen dividing the arena.
"I could see Marco Fu behind the wall and when I heard the score going to
about 80, I looked over to him.
"His eyes confirmed Ronnie was on the max. I was tempted to go up to the
screen and look round like Bill Werbeniuk did when Cliff Thorburn made his
maximum in 1983.
"But I didn't want to get into Ronnie's line of sight. But it was a fantastic
break," added Higgins, who made two 147s within the space of three months back
in 2000.
Higgins has the satisfaction of getting over a testing first-round match while
O'Sullivan must sweat it out on Wednesday.
"I'm delighted I got through because it was a tough match. Ian played really
well and he has come on a lot. He is definitely going places.
"It was only a three or four frames burst that helped me get back in the
game."
McCulloch, who beat Higgins in this season's British Open, certainly played
his part in a superb match.
He led 3-1 during Monday's first session but then trailed 6-3 at close of
play.
He got within three frames on four occasions including at 9-7 when he followed
up the Scot's 127 with 100.
A 49 break put the 1998 world champion in control of frame 17 but he allowed
his Preston rival back to the table.
McCulloch then potted his way to 43 but missed a green when poised to get back
within a single frame.
"I still felt good and wouldn't have worried had Ian won that frame," added
Higgins, who now plays world number 82 Sean Storey for a place in the last
eight.
"It was a great match to be involved in and I've played a lot worse than that
this season and won," said the 31-year-old world number 43.
"There is no shame in losing 10-7 to someone of John's class at The
Crucible."
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