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SHEFFIELD, England - Former champions Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins were tied 4-4 in their world snooker championship quarterfinal at the end of Tuesday's opening session.
Higgins, winner of the title in 1998, compiled breaks of 91 and 73 on his way to opening up a 3-1 lead.
Double champion O'Sullivan levelled at 3-3 with runs of 65, 60 and 54.
Higgins edged ahead with a century break in the penultimate frame and went in front in the final frame of the session before O'Sullivan drew level with a 76 break.
Englishman Shaun Murphy and Matthew Stevens of Wales were tied at 4-4 in their quarter-final.
Stevens, who lost to Murphy in the 2005 final, made a 118 break as he surged to a 3-0 lead.
After Murphy won the next two frames, Stevens compiled another century break to go 4-2 ahead. Murphy then took the last two frames of the afternoon to draw level.
In the other quarterfinals, Scotland's Stephen Maguire went 5-3 up against Anthony Hamilton while qualifier Mark Selby opened up a similar lead over Allister Carter.
- REUTERS