"Ronnie O'Sullivan's Surprising Admission Right After World Snooker Championship Exit"

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN has sensationally claimed he booked a flight from England to Dublin BEFORE the start of a thrilling final session with John Higgins.

That is because , 50, was convinced he would be hammered on Sunday night in the latest instalment of their legendary Crucible rivalry.

Ronnie O’Sullivan was convinced he would lose to John Higgins Credit: bbc sport The Rocket was so sure he claims to have booked a flight home before the final session Credit: Alamy

But felt he owed his stunning comeback victory to a NEW CLOTH as his prayers were answered – and he produced “snooker from the Gods.”

Higgins, 50, in what was described as one of the greatest second-round matches in the history of the World Championship.

Before the first session on Saturday night, Dubai-based O’Sullivan says he arranged a trip to his Ireland base on Monday morning because he was expecting to be beaten with a session to spare on Sunday.

O’Sullivan said: “I’ve got to be honest with you, I had a flight booked home early this morning.

“Because I wasn’t sure if I’d get to the third session before the match started.

“I was realistic about my chances. John’s strong, playing well, won tournaments in the last couple of years.

“I haven’t been in any big matches really for two years. So, you know, all these games, I know it’s a different level.

“It’s alright beating people in the last 64 or 32, ranked 30th or 40th in the world.

“But playing the top boys under pressure, in a real pressure situation now, I knew it was going to kind of expose me.

“I was really shocked that I was able to make a game of it to be honest with you.

“I’ll go back to Ireland tonight. Just chill there and then come back whenever I’ve got to play again.”

O’Sullivan led 6-2 after session one and then 9-7 after the second session.

In the third session, Higgins potted magnificently, hitting three centuries in a wonderful five-frame spell, and kept the seven-time world champion in his chair for long periods.

O’Sullivan punched a cushion in frame 16 after playing his penultimate shot of frame 25.

The former world No1 explained: “.

“I thought: ‘. How many of these am I going to keep missing?’

“I reckon after a second, it’s deleted [from my mind] and I’m cool as a cucumber really.

“, move forward.”

Higgins struggled with the chalk dust left on the table by O’Sullivan’s unorthodox chalk and was immensely grateful that a kick in the final frame did not ruin his fightback.

The Scotsman – – now leads 4-3 in their record-equalling Crucible meetings over 30 years.

The Wizard of Wishaw roared: “I came to the party at last.

“The table was tough. Listen, we all know Ronnie plays with other chalk, and it makes it difficult.

“It makes the pockets even tighter, it seems to be that way.

“When they said the tables had been recovered, I thought this is a chance.

“I wouldn’t have had that burst in me if it was the old cloth.

“[After that kick] I prayed to God. But he was listening, because he gave me another chance, and then I potted that red in the middle.

“I was still feeling confident that if I could get in, I’d have a chance.”

Many superlatives were thrown around as experts drooled over the quality of potting and drama on display between the baize icons.

, the 1997 world champion, said: “What a turnaround.

“John was ill at ease in the first session and never settled. But he has stuck in there.

“Now, he is playing some of the best we have seen in this year’s Championship for a number of years.

“It’s probably one of the greatest last-16 matches we have ever seen. The snooker he has produced has been from the Gods.”