Top News

Former snooker playerturnedpundit Alan McManus has suggested that Ronnie O'Sullivan did not 'put in the graft' at the Crucible after falling to defeat against John Higgins. In a World Championship classic, O'Sullivan led 6-2 after the first session but ultimately lost 13-12.

Despite O'Sullivan looking the better player for long spells, McManus criticised the seven-time Crucible champion. "Good, he should be [hurt], because he didn't put the graft in for this tournament - I'm being harsh on him here," he said. "The positives are that, in my opinion, he's still got the juice to win this thing again. But that will only happen if he puts in the graft long term."

O'Sullivan led 6-2 and it looked ominous for Higgins. That advantage grew to 9-4, but the fourtime Crucible champion clawed his way back into the contest and trailed only 9-7.

The Scot then reeled off three straight frames to move 10-9 ahead, and although O'Sullivan responded to edge back in front at 11-10, it was clear the match was destined to go the distance. But in the end, it ended in heartbreak for O'Sullivan.

Higgins booked his place in the last eight and now holds a positive Crucible record against him (4-3). The seven-time champion made a stunning revelation after the defeat, claiming he never anticipated reaching the third session.

EXPRESS SPORT ON FB!Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page

"I've got to be honest with you, I had a flight booked home early this morning because I wasn't sure if I'd get to the third session before the match started," O'Sullivan said. "I was realistic about my chances, John's strong, playing well, won tournaments the last couple of years.

"I haven't been in any big matches really for two years. These games, I know it's a different level. It's alright beating people in the last 64, last 32, whatever, ranked 30th or 40th in the world.

"But playing the top boys under a real pressure situation, I knew it was going to kind of expose me in some sort of way. I was really shocked that I was able to make a game of it, to be honest with you. Literally, when I was 6-2 up at the first session, I said to my mate: I can't work this one out. I felt like I played okay. 9-7 up, I thought, okay, cool, two sessions.

Sky Sports and Stream deal

"One you can get a bit flukey. It's a little bit of new territory for me again, but John played great. I tried to hang on to him. I just couldn't get the job done. I'll go back to Ireland, just chill there and then come back whenever I've got to play again."

He struck the table in the final frame of the middle session after a missed shot, but insisted: "I wasn't even angry. I was quite frustrated. I thought: I missed another bloody important ball. How many of these am I going to keep missing? It was a nice sort of anger.

"In the last round I thought, rather than do the hands, do it with the cue. I missed the tough ball, it was just nice just to go bang. Then within a second, it's deleted and I'm cool as a cucumber really. I like to just get it out and it's just done, drawn a line under it, just move forward."