Ronnie O’Sullivan v Zhao Xintong LIVE: O’Sullivan crashes out with session to spare in World Snooker Championship semi-final
Ronnie O’Sullivan failed in his bid for a record eighth snooker world title as Chinese star Zhao Xintong sent him packing with a session to spare
Ronnie O’Sullivan crashed out of the World Snooker Championship with a session to spare as Chinese sensation Zhao Xintong booked his place in the final at the Crucible Theatre.
O’Sullivan suffered a damaging morning in his bid for a history-writing eighth snooker world title, with Zhao securing every frame in the early session in Sheffield.
The pair had matched each other in Thursday’s opening session to close at 4-4, but Zhao surged into a 12-4 lead with a fine display of potting, capitalising on regular opportunities offered by an error-ridden O’Sullivan. He then held off a comeback to win three of the final four frames of the evening session to seal a 17-7 win, sealing his final spot.
In the other semi-final, the world No 1 Judd Trump and Mark Williams continued a nip-and-tuck affair as the Welsh veteran squared affairs at 8-8. Trump had extended his overnight advantage from 5-3 to 7-3 and had chances to further swell his tally, but Williams showed all of his experience to edge a couple of nibblers and leave the match beautifully poised ahead of the weekend.
Relive the clash between Ronnie O’Sullivan and Zhao Xintong and all the key action from the World Snooker Championship below.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-12 Zhao Xintong
The referee warned the crowd to “settle down please” after an earlier Zhao miss.
There’s an appreciation for what the young Chinese star is doing on the big stage, but the Crucible faithful is wholeheartedly in Ronnie’s corner.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-12 Zhao Xintong
Neither Zhao or O’Sullivan have quite arrived at their best tonight. Perhaps it’s nerves.
Zhao miscues an attempted long red but is fortunate to see the cue ball run safe near the cushion. He then makes up for his error with an excellent red into the bottom right.
O’Sullivan then sends a long red wayward of the pocket, allowing Zhao to get more points on the board.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-12 Zhao Xintong
It ends with a foul, but a break of 37 is enough to win the first frame of the evening and end Zhao’s nine-frame winning streak!
Is this the start of a special comeback from The Rocket?
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-12 Zhao Xintong
Zhao looks to be finding his rhythm as he fires a black in after the red, before brilliantly placing the cue ball in a position for a simple shot for blue.
But with a decent break set up, a simple shot at red catches the pocket and goes wayward.
Big chance for O’Sullivan to take the frame.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-12 Zhao Xintong
Another foul by Zhao as he doesn’t catch the red right, with the cue flying into the pocket.
O’Sullivan gets another chance to get more points on the board and takes it, growing more into this frame.
That said, the cue ball isn’t lying perfectly for him - the break isn’t ideal, forcing him to go for the blue and pink rather than the black.
Nevertheless, he’s got a break of 36 on the board - he’s 49-4 to the good in the frame.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-12 Zhao Xintong
O’Sullivan pots the first ball of the night with a long red, but snookers himself in the process!
He fouls at the first attempt but catches it on the second.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-12 Zhao Xintong
Zhao doesn’t get off to the best start and concedes the first points of the night through two fouls.
He misses the red twice after being somewhat snookered by O’Sullivan - there was a clear option in the corner but Zhao opted to go for more ambitious edge, to no avail on both occasions.
He is then warned by the referee to hit a red or risk forfeiting the frame - and hits the obvious shot with little hesitation.
Far from the start he would have envisaged.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-12 Zhao Xintong
And we’re off! A good reception from the crowd for Zhao, but the ovation was vociferous for O’Sullivan.
O’Sullivan gets us underway in this 17th frame of the semi-final.
Back to the baize we go!
Here come O’Sullivan and Zhao for their crucial third session at the Crucible!
Zhao is 12-4 up and could send The Rocket packing if he wins just five frames tonight, with the Chinese “amateur” on course for a spectacular first World Championship final.
A big recovery required from O’Sullivan... but if anyone can, it’s Ronnie.
Next up...
We’re about to get back underway at the Crucible as Ronnie O’Sullivan prepares to launch a response to the session whitewash suffered at the hands of Zhao Xintong this morning.
A reminder that Zhao now needs just five more frames to book his place in the final against either Judd Trump or Mark Williams.
We’ll have all the action, right here.
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