Ronnie O’Sullivan’s World Championship Hopes Dashed by Dominant Zhao Xintong
In a stunning display of skill and temperament, Zhao Xintong defeated seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan 17-7 in their World Championship semi-final, securing his place in the final at the Crucible. The 28-year-old from China becomes only the second player from Asia to reach the final, following in the footsteps of his compatriot Ding Junhui, who was runner-up to Mark Selby in 2016.
According to BBC Sport, Zhao’s victory was a masterclass performance, with the 28-year-old compiling breaks of 62 and 128 to dash any hopes O’Sullivan had of building momentum. Despite O’Sullivan taking the first frame of the evening session, Zhao exhibited an incredible temperament to round off the match, compiling breaks of 85, 63, and 88 to seal the most famous victory of his career.
In a post-match interview with BBC Sport, Zhao expressed his gratitude to O’Sullivan, citing the seven-time champion as an inspiration. "I can’t believe that. I need to say thank you to Ronnie because he has helped me a lot before. He’s my idol," Zhao said. "It’s my first time playing on the single table here, it’s an amazing time for me and I just want to enjoy it because I don’t know how many times I can try to enjoy it here."
Zhao’s scintillating showing on Friday morning laid the platform for his victory, becoming only the fourth player to win a session 8-0 against O’Sullivan at the Crucible. This performance was reminiscent of the form he displayed on his way to the UK title in 2021, and he was able to maintain that level to become only the second player since John Parrott in 1994 to defeat O’Sullivan with a session to spare at snooker’s most famous venue.
O’Sullivan, who has won a record 41 ranking events, has struggled with his cue since snapping his old one at the Championship League in January. Despite trying different cues and making adjustments to his equipment, he was unable to find his rhythm against Zhao. "I just felt like I never gave him a game so that’s a bit disappointing," O’Sullivan said. "Zhao deserved his victory. I think he’s done brilliantly all tournament and all credit to Zhao. He played better than me."
As reported by BBC Sport, Zhao’s victory sets up a fascinating final, with the 28-year-old looking to become the second player from Asia to lift the trophy. With his incredible temperament and skill on display, Zhao will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with in the final.
The World Championship final is set to be a thrilling encounter, with Zhao Xintong looking to claim his first Crucible title. As BBC Sport continues to provide extensive coverage of the tournament, fans can expect in-depth analysis and commentary on the final.
The source of this article, BBC Sport, has provided comprehensive coverage of the World Championship, offering expert insights and reaction from the players.
