World Championship Day 7

Day 7 at the Crucible and although it was the day where the second round got into full swing I think its fair to say one match stood out above all others as the men with 11 World titles between them John Higgins and Stephen Hendry came face to face.

This was amazingly the first time these two legends had met in the World Championship and the opening session took its time to get going as both men struggled to settle and we reached the mid session interval level at 2-2.After that although Higgins did win the next with what was his 500th career century it was Hendry who found his scoring touch to win the next three and take a 5-3 lead into tonights second session.

This served to set things up nicely for this evening session but no one could have expected what they were about to witness as Hendry won the session 7-1 to move within one of victory leading 12-4.This does not tell the whole story though as unless you actually witnessed the session it is impossible to put into words how poorly John Higgins played.It for me actually made uncomfortable viewing to see him struggle so much.

Admittedly he has had a poor season by his standards but I think it was the common view that he would improve once he saw the lights of Sheffield he would have a real go at lifting a fifth World title.That looks a long way away now though as barring the greatest comeback in crucible history he will wave goodbye for 2012 tomorrow afternoon.

Hendry for his part took full advantage of his opponents mistakes as you would expect but will know he will have to improve if he is to lift an eighth title next weekend,

In other action Neil Robertson became to first player through to the quarter finals with a 13-9 victory over a stubborn David Gilbert.Leading 5-3 overnight Robertson extended that to 10-6 following the second session and won the first of the night to make it 11-6.The Tamworth native to his credit though would not go away easily and managed to close to 12-9 before the Aussie closed out the match 13-9.He now awaits the winner between Williams and o Sullivan who get underway tomorrow.

Steven Maguire also looks well set to make the quarter finals and a probable clash with Hendry  as he won six of the eight frames  to take an 11-5 lead into the final session tomorrow morning against Joe Perry.

In the other match that started today Ryan Day leads Cao Yupeng 6-2 following an error strewn first session that could easily have gone 6-2 the other way,That said though unless Cao can find some form early in tomorrows second session you would expect Day to maybe pull away in this one.

So into the second week we go with some more fascinating clashes in store,If we half the drama we've had in the first week we are in for a hell of a treat..