Kyren Wilson literally waved the white flag as John Higgins smashed Ronnie O’Sullivan’s record to reach the World Grand Prix quarter-finals.
The two came together in Hong Kong on Thursday morning with Higgins securing a 4-2 success. In doing that, he hit two centuries – one of which being a stunning 143 in the second frame.
After reaching the last eight in the World Open in China last month, he had the chance to beat O’Sullivan’s record of 146 ranking quarter-finals. And he duly did that with his stunning win.
Speaking last month about his ambitions of breaking the record, he said: “One more [quarter-final] to go to 147 would be nice. I’ve had a good career and a long career and maybe that’s why I’ve managed to rack up some of those numbers.
“I’m proud to still be going. I still love competing out there and I’d dearly love to win a big event. That’s what I’m trying my hardest to do.”
And while Higgins was no doubt delighted to progress and beat the Rocket’s record, Wilson also had an amusing response. During the final stages of his clash with Higgins, he put a white towel on the end of his cue and waved it above his head – triggering laughter from the crowd.
The quarter-final record is not the only one that O’Sullivan has lost this year. World number one Judd Trump smashed the Rocket’s previous landmark of the most amount of prize money won in a single snooker season.
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His win over Ding Junhui in their Masters quarter-final in January saw him surpass that record. And asked about that achievement, he had an amusing response by replying: “Don’t tell everyone here!”
O’Sullivan faces a long wait should he want to reclaim his quarter-final record. After withdrawing from the World Grand Prix, he is now ineligible to play at either the Players Championship in Telford and the Tour Championship in Manchester.
That means his next appearance at the table will likely come at the World Championships in Sheffield next month. Of course, the 49-year-old has a stunning record in that particular competition having won the title on a record seven occasions – the most recent coming in 2022. He has reached the quarter-finals in each of his last two appearances at the Crucible.
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