Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins will renew one of snooker's greatest rivalries at the 2026 World Championship in Sheffield, meeting in the last 16 on Saturday. The two legends, both now 50, have carved out extraordinary careers spanning three decades at the sport's pinnacle. O'Sullivan has accumulated seven world titles while Higgins boasts four championships, establishing themselves among the sport's all-time greats alongside the third member of their legendary generation, 51-year-old Mark Williams.

Their first encounter came at the 1996 Crucible, where Higgins squandered a 12-11 lead in a quarter-final that still haunts him. The Scot was one frame from victory when he miscued on a straightforward pink, allowing O'Sullivan to clear the table and advance. "I remember it as clear as day," Higgins recalled 30 years on. "I've got an easy clearance with the colours." The miss proved pivotal in a match that helped forge both players' legendary status.

The rivalry has swung decisively between them over the years. Higgins won their 1998 semi-final on his way to a first title, before O'Sullivan got revenge in the 2001 final for his inaugural championship. Higgins then claimed quarter-final victories in 2007 and 2011, while O'Sullivan took their most recent Crucible meeting in the 2022 semi-final. They have played six times at the famous Sheffield theatre, with three wins apiece.