John Higgins has the chance to set a record at the World Snooker Championship that Ronnie O'Sullivan may never be able to match. Higgins is vying for a spot in the final but will need to get past an inspired Shaun Murphy to book his place in this year's Crucible showpiece. He is the oldest player to reach the last four since Ray Reardon in 1985 and will be hoping to secure a fifth title over the coming days.

Earlier in the tournament, the veteran Scot came from behind to earn a mesmerising win over O'Sullivan in the latest instalment of their decades-old rivalry. The Rocket twice led by five frames but lost six on the bounce across the final two sessions, with Higgins firing three centuries before getting over the line in a decisive final frame.

That victory and his subsequent winning form has given Higgins the opportunity to write his name into the history books by securing another Crucible title.

If he reaches the final and wins it, he will become the only player in the modern professional era to land snooker's biggest prize in four different decades.

Such a record is unlikely to be overtaken in the years ahead and O'Sullivan won't be able to beat it unless he keeps playing until at least 2030.

While there is nothing to suggest he is thinking about retirement at the moment, the 50-year-old has struggled to compete on the biggest stage since his last Crucible triumph in 2022.

Higgins, meanwhile, has struck a purple patch of form and will be hoping to capitalise as the World Snooker Championship nears a thrilling conclusion.

He was lauded for his impressive safety play following his quarter-final victory over Neil Robertson, who later suggested that Higgins' tactics may have been missed by viewers and commentators.

"His safety was unbelievable, it really was, and it's just the little angles that he's creating that commentators wouldn't notice and perhaps people watching wouldn't notice," said the Aussie.

"But when you're out there and he's blocking angles by an inch or two at a time, you know, it's something to really appreciate. I wasn't enjoying it too much, but I was admiring it.

"I played probably about eight frame-winning safety shots in that match that John got out of. If I'm playing any other person apart from Mark Selby or John, I'd probably get in and win those frames.

"I went into my chair thinking I'd absolutely nailed him. You know, he tapped the table with a huge problem to solve."

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