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The 2026 World Snooker Championship is well underway, and Ronnie O'Sullivan's meeting with John Higgins has been one of the highlights of the second round. The pair returned to action on Monday after a flashpoint involving seven-time champion O'Sullivan on Sunday. There was also controversy in another of the second round match-ups, with Chris Wakelin left confused after a moment in his meeting with Neil Robertson. Australian pro Robertson led 10-6 ahead of Monday's resumption, with the first player to 13 frames making it through.

Four of the second-round ties were completed over the weekend. Among them was the match between reigning champion Zhao Xintong and fellow Chinese star Ding Junhui. Zhao won 13-9 to set up a quarter-final against 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy, who won 13-3 against Xiao Guodong. In the other half of the draw, Mark Allen and Barry Hawkins overcame higher-seeded players, with Allen beating Kyren Wilson and Hawkins overcoming Mark Williams. Here are the latest lines as we approach the latter stages of the tournament at The Crucible.

Ronnie O'Sullivan held a narrow lead over John Higgins when play concluded on Sunday. However, his reaction during the final frame of the evening suggested he felt he should be further ahead than the 9-7 margin.

Trailing 8-0 in the 16th frame of the match, O'Sullivan aimed to send a red into the top-left pocket but saw it squirm away. He reacted angrily, punching the side of the table before walking away, with Higgins going on to win the frame.

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It comes after the 50-year-old spoke candidly about recent frustrations. I certainly feel like I want to play now, whereas before I was just scared of playing," he said after a first-round victory over He Guoqiang.

"I'd just had enough of hitting poor shot after poor shot. Now, I get excited about playing because I think I'm going to hit some nice shots, and that all I want to do.

"My game's still not anywhere near where it needs to be but that's not important at this stage of my career. I've just got to take enjoying the game."

Chris Wakelin was penalised for a foul during his match against Neil Robertson, much to his confusion. Referee Peggy Li made the call after ruling that Wakelin had touched the yellow ball with his cue as he rose after potting a red.

"Because it's on this [left] side, I was on the right position, and then you were very close when you lifted your cue out," Li told Wakelin. "And then when you lifted your cue out it was slightly on the yellow, the cue. I'm sorry but I have to call it."

John Parrott, covering the event for the BBC, appreciated that Li will have been better placed to see the offence than those watching from further away. "I didn't see anything myself there, but Peggy is in a better position than I am," the 1991 world champion said.

"It's very difficult to see. When he followed through, the cue does make a tiny movement towards the yellow and we can't see that and Peggy would be in a better position to see."