Zhao Xintong stunned the snooker world with a sensational display to defeat seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan 17-7 and book his place in the World Championship final with a session to spare.
The Chinese star, who entered the tournament through four rounds of qualifying, delivered a breathtaking performance at the Crucible Theatre to eliminate his childhood idol. O’Sullivan, who had struggled with form and cue issues throughout the tournament, could not match Zhao’s intensity and precision. Despite a late attempt to rally by winning the first two frames of the evening session, O’Sullivan ultimately had no answers to Zhao’s clinical play.
Zhao dominated the second session of the semi-final, winning all eight frames in a whitewash that swung the match heavily in his favour. He made impressive breaks of 57, 112, 82, 67, and 115 during that stretch. The pressure proved too much for O’Sullivan, whose struggles were compounded by a failed mid-match tip and ferrule change. Though he had kept the match level at 4-4 in the opening session, he quickly lost ground as Zhao punished every missed opportunity and safety error.
O’Sullivan admitted post-match that he was unsure whether his issues stemmed from the cue, the ferrule, or simply himself. Having snapped his previous cue earlier in the season, he experimented with equipment changes throughout the event. However, these adjustments failed to yield any improvement. He acknowledged that Zhao was fully deserving of the victory and praised the 27-year-old’s composure under pressure.
Zhao, who had never previously reached the one-table set-up at the Crucible, remained composed throughout the match and sealed victory with another effortless clearance. His triumph now puts him within one match of becoming the first Chinese world snooker champion. The only previous Chinese player to make the final was Ding Junhui in 2016.
Awaiting Zhao in the final will be either Judd Trump or Mark Williams, who are locked in a gripping semi-final battle. Williams mounted a spirited comeback to level the match at 8-8 after trailing 7-3. Trump started strongly with breaks of 70 and 65 to extend his lead early on, but Williams responded with high-quality play of his own, including breaks of 105 and 84.
The Welshman, seeking a fourth world title, showed grit and precision to take four of the last five frames. He sealed the 15th frame on the pink in a tense finish and rounded off the session with a masterful 96 clearance to draw level.
The winner of that match will face a resurgent Zhao, who will enjoy a well-earned day off before contesting the final on Sunday and Monday. With Zhao’s current form and unflappable temperament, there is growing belief that the long wait for a Chinese world champion may be nearing its end.
