Higgins and O'Sullivan take semifinal leads
( 2001-05-04 09:43 ) (7 )

John Higgins and Ronnie O'Sullivan were leading their respective semifinals in the snooker world championship after the opening sessions on Thursday.

Scot Higgins was 5-3 up over Welshman Matthew Stevens, while England's O'Sullivan had racked up a 6-2 lead over Joe Swail of Northern Ireland.

Stevens compiled a century break in his first frame but it was the only time he was in front.

Higgins appeared to be in trouble when he snookered himself in the fourth frame, but he rescued the situation by potting a difficult red on his way to taking a 3-1 lead.

Stevens won the next frame with a 68 break and was 32-0 ahead in frame six when his poor safety shot let in Higgins, who produced a 95 break.

A break of 92 saw the Scot move three frames clear and he was in a good position in the final frame when, with a lead of 56-0, he missed a red and Stevens clinched it.

The best-of-33-frames encounter will resume on Friday.

In the other match, Swail made a bright start, winning two out of the first three frames. But O'Sullivan drew level at 2-2 with breaks of 73 and 62.

Swail lost the fifth frame without scoring as O'Sullivan went in front for the first time in the match.

A break of 70 then saw O'Sullivan open up a two-frame lead. Swail had a chance to reduce the arrears in the following frame when he led 51-45 but he failed to capitalise on the opening.

O'Sullivan, who is bidding to make his first appearance in the final, won the last frame of the session to take his four-frame advantage.