O'Sullivan cruises but Higgins needs dramatic decider

Seven-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan moved into the quarter-finals of the World Championship with a comfortable 13-7 win over Ryan Day.

O'Sullivan led 10-6 overnight then took three of Monday afternoon's first four frames to seal victory before the planned mid-session interval.

'The Rocket' is aiming for a record-breaking eighth title in the modern era, having drawn level with Stephen Hendry's tally of seven in 2022.

Meanwhile, four-time winner John Higgins fought back from 10-7 down to beat Mark Allen 13-12 in a tense final-frame decider.

Higgins compiled a composed 71 clearance after Allen's break faltered on 62.

The Scot will now play Kyren Wilson, who booked his place in the last eight by defeating debutant Joe O’Connor 13-6 in the afternoon.

O’Sullivan’s next opponent will be 2015 winner Stuart Bingham, who held off a Jack Lisowski revival to triumph 13-11.

Lisowski knocked in four half-centuries and a sublime 123 to get back to 11-11 but Bingham held his nerve to keep his dream of a second title alive.

Having demolished Jackson Page 10-1 in the first round, O'Sullivan continued his serene progress in snooker’s blue riband event against Day.

"If I'd not been as tight or as clinical in some situations, he would probably have got on more of a roll at times," O'Sullivan told BBC Sport.

"I was pleased to be able to stem that at points and try to have an impact when I got a chance."

After establishing a commanding lead in the first two sessions of their best-of-25 contest, against an opponent who has not beaten him for 13 years, O'Sullivan appeared in relaxed mood once play got back under way.

That was underlined as he laughed along with an enthusiastic fan while taking on a shot with the rest in frame 17.

While he did present Wales' Day with opportunities to reduce his arrears beyond the frame he did manage to claim, O'Sullivan - who has enlisted the help of coach Nic Barrow - was still relatively untroubled.

Breaks of 85 and a 67 in the 20th of the match ensured an early conclusion for the Englishman, who is aiming to win all three of the sport's Triple Crown events in the same season for the first time in his career.

"Early days for me, trying this new way of playing, different style of cueing, just to get away from the 'yips' as I call it, the easiest way of explaining it," he added.

"It's been hard work for two years and I decided I couldn't continue playing like that, so I had to make some changes.

"So it's the body and mind trying to catch up with each other. I've got some of it right, it's just the other pieces need to fall in - I'm trying to work out the puzzle."

Higgins’ last ranking success came more than three years ago and, while he has reached six semi-finals this term, silverware has remained elusive.

The difficulties he has faced in recent seasons - questioning his own game and his place in the top 16 in the rankings being in peril for the first time since the end of the 1994-95 season - were evident when the 48-year-old raised his arms in an emotional celebration.

"It’s probably the best [clearance] with what I’ve been through in the last couple of years," Higgins told BBC Sport.

“I think I have still got it. I gave myself a chance with a new cue coming down. Although I missed a few, I was really wanting to go for my shots."

World number three Allen had extended his lead to 10-7 in the first frame of Monday evening.

However, the Northern Irishman then watched Higgins respond with breaks of 64 and 51 as he reeled off the next three frames to draw level at 10-10.

A see-saw contest saw the pair compile half-centuries each as they shared the next four frames. When Allen missed a red with the rest with the winning line in sight, Higgins knocked in a brave cross and rolled back the years in remarkable fashion.

"I was looking around at 12-12 when Mark was on a break, thinking 'I've loved being out here, I've loved playing here and I'd love to come back again' so to hold myself together, I'm proud of myself," he added.

"I'm pretty good under pressure - I have to give myself a pat on the back. I know people over the last couple of years might be thinking I'm not - but I can still hold it together in these pressure moments."

Wilson, who lost to O’Sullivan in the 2020 final, is hoping to end an underwhelming campaign with a bang and looks to be returning towards his best form.

Although he had lost at this stage in the previous two years, he enjoys a good overall record at the Crucible and had few difficulties defeating O’Connor, a pre-tournament practice partner.

“The main thing was getting the win under my belt but I felt I had so much more to give. I felt like I was kind of using my C game, which is a massive positive,” he said.

“I am a much better player now [than in 2020] and my scoring stats would suggest that. I was tinkering too much. I got the glove out and that ruined half my season.

“At the turn of the year my results started to improve so I knew my form was there.”