In a stunning upset at the World Snooker Championship, Ronnie O'Sullivan's quest for an eighth title came to a premature end as he lost 17-7 to amateur Zhao Xintong in the semi-finals. This defeat marks a significant moment in O'Sullivan's storied career, being his first semi-final loss at the Crucible in 19 years and one of the most lopsided defeats he has ever faced.
The match, held at the iconic Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, showcased Zhao's remarkable talent as he dominated the morning session, winning all eight frames in just 82 minutes. This whitewash was only the fourth time in O'Sullivan's illustrious career that he failed to win a frame in an entire session at the Crucible. By the end of the morning, Zhao held a commanding 12-4 lead.
O'Sullivan, known as "The Rocket," had made a strong start to the tournament, defeating Ali Carter 10-4 in the first round, Pang Junxu 13-4 in the second round, and Si Jiahui 13-9 in the quarter-finals. However, he struggled to find his rhythm against Zhao, who had previously spent 20 months in exile due to a ban related to a match-fixing scandal.
During the match, O'Sullivan made significant changes to his cue, replacing the tip three times and changing the ferrule from titanium to brass in a bid to regain his form. Unfortunately, these adjustments did not yield the desired results, as O'Sullivan continued to miss crucial pots and lacked control over the cue ball.
In the evening session, O'Sullivan managed to win the first two frames, briefly closing the gap to 12-6. However, Zhao quickly regained control, showcasing his break-building skills with impressive breaks of 62 and 128, extending his lead to 14-6. O'Sullivan managed to win only one more frame before Zhao sealed the match with an 88 break, leaving O'Sullivan to reflect on a disappointing performance.
After the match, O'Sullivan graciously congratulated Zhao, acknowledging his opponent's superior play. "Zhao played good, he deserved his victory. I think he's done brilliantly all tournament and all credit to Zhao. He played better than me," O'Sullivan said in an interview with BBC Sport.
Zhao, who idolized O'Sullivan during his formative years, expressed his disbelief at the victory. "I can't believe it. I need to say thank you to Ronnie because he helped me a lot before. To be honest, I don't like beating him at The Crucible. Hopefully, he can win his eighth title here. He's my idol," Zhao commented after the match.
This victory not only propels Zhao into the final but also marks him as the second Chinese player to ever reach a World Championship final, following Ding Junhui's appearance in 2016. Zhao's journey to this point has been remarkable, having qualified for the tournament and overcoming significant obstacles, including his ban.
As the championship progresses, Zhao will face either Judd Trump or Mark Williams in the final, with their semi-final match currently tied at 8-8 and set to resume on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The anticipation builds as fans eagerly await to see if Zhao can bring home the first World Championship title for China.
O'Sullivan's defeat raises questions about his future in the sport, especially as he approaches his 50th birthday in December. He has hinted at a desire to continue competing but has also acknowledged the challenges he faces in maintaining his performance levels. "I've been awful for quite a while," O'Sullivan admitted. "Those performances are in there, they've been coming out quite regularly recently. I'd like it to be [there], I'd just like to play alright and I just felt like I never gave him a game so that's a bit disappointing."
With the snooker world watching closely, Zhao's journey continues to inspire a new generation of players, and his performance at the Crucible could signal a shift in the sport's landscape. As the final approaches, both fans and pundits will be keen to see if Zhao can capitalize on his momentum and secure a historic victory for himself and for Chinese snooker.
