The tension is palpable at the Crucible Theatre as China’s Xiao Guodong and Scotland’s John Higgins remain neck and neck at 8-8 after the second session of their second-round clash at the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield, England.
Both players showcased remarkable skill and resilience on Friday, mirroring the intensity of the first session that concluded at 4-4. The afternoon’s frames were fiercely contested, with neither player willing to concede ground.
Higgins, currently ranked world number three, briefly took the lead at 7-6. However, the 14th frame turned into a dramatic showdown. Xiao appeared to have the upper hand, leaving Higgins needing two snookers on the blue ball to stay in contention.
Demonstrating his championship pedigree, the four-time world champion Higgins managed to secure both snookers, forcing a re-spotted black. In an unexpected twist, Higgins attempted a pot on the black ball but inadvertently pocketed the cue ball, handing the frame to Xiao.
With momentum on his side, Xiao moved ahead at 8-7. But Higgins quickly regrouped, delivering a stunning 129 century break to level the match once more. This century was the tournament’s 63rd, matching last year’s total and highlighting the exceptional standard of play.
In another thrilling encounter, Zhao Xintong leads fellow Chinese player Lei Peifan 5-3. Lei surged ahead with a brilliant 120 break to make it 3-2, but Zhao fought back impressively, securing the next three frames with breaks of 53, 97, and 61. Their battle resumes on Saturday.
The stage is set for an exciting final session as these talented players vie for a place in the next round. Snooker fans around the world eagerly await the outcome of these tightly contested matches.
