Crucible Classics #25

Here's a countdown I'm starting today (25 days from what would have been the second night of the 2020 World Championship Final).

At number 25 in my countdown is:

25. 1996 World Championship Quarter-Final: Ronnie O'Sullivan 13-12 John Higgins
7-81; 69-58; 65(52)-0; 82(51)-33; 12-64; 0-137(137); 32-67; 36-67; 102(102)-0; 0-94(94); 68(68)-69; 54(54)-65; 63-9; 0-129(104); 60(54)-70(70); 61-15; 100(59)-38; 106(106)-0; 58-45; 69-61; 8-96(51); 12-84(80); 75-38; 70(57)-53(52); 69-21

Match Progress: 0-1, 1-1, 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 3-5, 4-5, 4-6, 4-7, 4-8, 5-8, 5-9, 5-10, 6-10, 7-10, 8-10, 9-10, 10-10, 10-11, 10-12, 11-12, 12-12, 13-12

What are your memories/observations of this Crucible Classic?

Yes a classic match between the two rising stars. Higgins let a lead slip in the last session but was clearing up to win 13-11 when he missed the final pink with the rest Ronnie the winning the decider.

Higgins actually beat Ronnie in the race to become world champion 2 years later, winning it a whole three years before Ronnie's first title. Ronnie beat Higgins in the 2001 final in what has been the only world final between the two of them to date.