Ronnie O'Sullivan defeated John Higgins 18–14 at the Crucible Theatre to win his first World Snooker Championship title on 7 May 2001, a victory completed after a tense final session.
A mountain built early, then defended
The 35-frame final spread across four sessions. O'Sullivan seized the opening session 6–2, punishing an early Higgins in-off with an 88 clearance. Higgins struck back with a 135 century, but the Englishman kept pulling away.
Through the middle sessions the pattern held. Breaks of 99, 100 and a towering 139 carried O'Sullivan to a 14–7 cushion. Yet Higgins clawed the next three frames to close the gap to 14–10 overnight.
One clearance that settled it all
The fourth session became a trial of nerve. Higgins took the first frame and later strung together breaks of 62 and 87 to reach 13–16, just two frames from levelling. The Crucible grew quiet as the 1998 champion hunted.
The decisive blow came in frame 30. Higgins stood 60 points ahead but missed a red. O'Sullivan stepped in and cleared with a 68, an unforgiving answer under the heaviest pressure. In frame 32, O'Sullivan constructed an 80 break to close the contest.
A first crown, nine years in the making
At 25, O'Sullivan had already been a professional for nine years and lost three previous Crucible semi-finals. His route through the draw was relentless before he finally stood opposite Higgins with the sport's biggest prize at stake.
"It will probably mean more to my dad than it does to me," O'Sullivan said afterwards, dedicating the win to his father. The first of a long relationship with the world crown had been written.
