'class Of 92' Graduates Aim For More Crucible Glory

At a mixed property of 99, 2 of snooker's all-time greats spell head-to-head connected Tuesday arsenic John Higgins takes connected Mark Williams pinch a spot successful nan World Championship semi-finals up for grabs.

The sport's legendary 'Class of 92', pinch Ronnie O'Sullivan completing nan trio, person won 14 world titles betwixt them - and are each still going beardown this year.

Williams turned 50 past month, Higgins reaches his half period 13 days aft this year's last pinch O'Sullivan celebrating his 50th day successful December.

But they person again proved that property is conscionable a number.

Could 1 of them again spell each nan measurement astatine nan Crucible?

Williams has go nan oldest man to scope nan past 8 astatine nan Crucible since six-time victor Steve Davis did truthful astatine nan property of 52 backmost successful 2010.

But 1 of Williams' oldest opponents stands successful his way.

"Twenty years ago, we were really large rivals - now we locomotion into nan believe room and we springiness each different a motion arsenic if to say: 'How are we still present competing pinch everybody?'" said Higgins.

It is simply a sentiment Williams agrees with.

"Normally nan older you get, nan worse you get," he said. "Your eyes are going, everything is going and your stamina drops a spot and you get tired a batch much easier.

"But someway america 3 are hanging astir for illustration a bad smell."

With O'Sullivan successful nan other half of nan tie a last betwixt 2 of nan 'Class of 92', named aft nan twelvemonth they turned professional, is simply a existent possibility.

"If 1 of those 3 players was to triumph nan World Championship, possibly hit a young whippersnapper successful nan final, what an accomplishment that would be. Maybe their champion ever achievement," said Davis.

Fifteen years ago, Davis defeated Mark King 10-9 successful nan Crucible first round, won 13-11 against a then-34-year-old Higgins, nan reigning champion, earlier losing 13-5 to eventual victor Neil Robertson successful nan past eight.

"It was a awesome buzz, I possibly ran retired of belief," recalled Davis.

"Hopefully they don't do that. They are overmuch much successful touch pinch nan apical portion of nan crippled than I was."

The trio's achievements are legendary. O'Sullivan has 7 world titles, Higgins 4 and Williams three.

If immoderate of them assistance nan trophy connected Monday, 5 May, they would go nan oldest victor successful nan modern era, breaking O'Sullivan's grounds erstwhile he won it 3 years ago, aged 46.

Thirty-three years agone they were each hungry, driven, talented teenagers pinch nan desire to scope nan top.

Williams described really he first met Higgins astatine nan last of an arena successful 1990, erstwhile they were some 15.

"We played successful nan last and he hit me," said nan Welshman. "It was unrecorded connected TV and he hit maine 6-1, he had 5 expansive for a win, I had 3 expansive for runner-up.

"We past played successful nan British Under-16s successful Birmingham and I thrashed him 4-0 aft 50 minutes and I sewage 200 quid truthful I was a week late.

"That was nan first clip I really remembered John arsenic it was maine and O'Sullivan playing successful each nan inferior events erstwhile we were 13 and 14."

Williams and Higgins person their ain Crucible history and person met 5 times, pinch 4 victories for Williams, including an 18-16 occurrence successful an epic showdown successful nan 2018 final.

"That world last was 1 of nan champion games I've ever been progressive successful and group opportunity it was nan champion last ever," said Williams.

Ken Doherty, nan 1997 world champion, played against nan 'Class of 92' passim his profession and felt this lucifer was "the necktie of nan round".

"They've been astatine nan apical of nan crippled since 1992, 33 years, and are still astatine nan apical and still producing," nan Irishman said.

"As you get older it becomes a batch much difficult arsenic players for illustration me, Stephen Hendry, Alan McManus, Peter Ebdon person each recovered out. It's difficult to header successful position of tension, strength and besides to beryllium capable to give your life to nan game.

"You go a father, a family man and it's difficult to dedicate themselves to nan crippled but they still person nan appetite, willingness and hunger and that's an unthinkable talent arsenic well.

"I've been logging heads pinch them for 30 years. I've beaten them each but besides mislaid to them each successful large finals. I conscionable had awesome times playing them and you utilized to relish it arsenic it was a awesome trial of your ain game."

Doherty, who is portion of nan BBC TV squad for nan competition, felt nan ambiance would beryllium electric.

"When you spot them coming into nan Crucible for their lucifer they will get a opinionated ovation arsenic they did successful nan Masters," he added. "We mightiness not spot nan benignant of these 3 again truthful we person to bask them while we can. They've fixed nan athletics awesome entertainment, awesome matches and are still delivering."

Shaun Murphy tipped Judd Trump, who hit him 13-10 connected Monday, to triumph nan title but thought nan Williams-Higgins conflict would beryllium "fabulous for nan sport".

He added: "The Class of 92 are 3 of nan champion players we've ever seen and it's awesome we still get to watch them.

"None of them would beryllium present if they didn't want to be, they evidently emotion it capable to put themselves done it."

World number 1 Trump will play nan victor of Williams-Higgins successful nan semi-final if he triumphs successful his ain quarter-final against Luca Brecel.

Trump felt nan seasoned trio would proceed to characteristic astatine nan apical level for years to come.

"They inspired maine a small bit, particularly Ronnie and John erstwhile I younger," said Trump. "Ronnie was personification I really looked up to. They're miles distant from retiring and not acold from their absolute best.

"When I played Williams successful nan semi-finals (when Trump won a final-frame decider for a 17-16 triumph successful 2022) I've ne'er seen him play for illustration that.

"These 3 could beryllium present erstwhile they're 65 if they wanted to be."