That was the year in which he became - as he remains - the youngest ever world ranking tournament semi-finalist and won that event, the Regal Welsh open, when he was 19.

BBC: Winning the hard way

Higginson is only the second unranked player, after Terry Griffiths in the 1979 World Championship, to appear in the final of a ranking event.

BBC: SPORT | Other Sport... | Snooker | Robertson and Higginson in final

But former world champion O'Sullivan, who has not won a ranking event for 31 months, offered a low-key verdict on his victory.

BBC: CHOOSE A SPORT