World Snooker Championship: Zhao routs O’Sullivan to reach final and earn shot at history
Emphatic triumph gives Zhao opportunity to become China’s first champion, which O’Sullivan says ‘would be amazing for snooker’
Zhao Xintong stands one victory away from becoming China’s first winner of the World Snooker Championship after a stunning semi-final defeat of Ronnie O’Sullivan.
The 28-year-old Zhao thrashed the seven-time champion 17-7 at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre late on Friday to progress to the final, which will take place on Sunday and Monday.
A scarcely believable first Friday session had gone 8-0 in Zhao’s favour, giving him a 12-4 lead in the best-of-33 contest and setting him up to close out one of O’Sullivan’s heaviest losses.
“I’m so happy,” Zhao said, before paying tribute to “my idol” O’Sullivan, whom he said had often helped him with mentoring in practice and advice over lunch.
“I can’t believe I can beat Ronnie – I just wanted to enjoy the one-table match,” he said of his maiden run to the semi-finals, when the spotlight falls on a single contest.
