appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

SCMP Sport

China’s Zhao Xintong has set his sights on becoming the first amateur to win the World Snooker Championship after reaching the semi-finals for the first time.
The 28-year-old on Thursday began his last-four clash with seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre, having the previous day beaten Chris Wakelin 13-5 before O’Sullivan overcame Zhao’s compatriot Si Jiahui 13-9 in the quarter-finals.
Zhao is having to play as an amateur as he returns to the sport after serving a 20-month suspension for breaching betting regulations in 2023, and came through four rounds of qualifiers to reach the tournament proper. He is set to rejoin the professional tour next season.
A winner of the UK Championship before his ban, Zhao would be the first world champion from China, and indeed Asia, should he go all the way in Sheffield.
“When I was a kid, watching snooker on TV and seeing the semis and final here, it was such a powerful image,” said Zhao before facing O’Sullivan in the first best-of-33 match of his career.
“And now that I’m standing there myself, I feel really happy. Of course, I still hope I can go one step further and win the semi-final, maybe even challenge for the title.”
However, Zhao, who has already gone further than any previous amateur, admitted after his emphatic defeat of Wakelin that he was battling to sustain his intensity through the notoriously taxing tournament.
“Maybe it’s because I’ve been playing continuously for over 20 days now, this long format takes a toll on your concentration,” Zhao said. “Physically I still feel OK, but mentally I wasn’t as sharp as I was earlier in the tournament.”
O’Sullivan, too, said mental strength would be crucial.

He's some player... #Xintong#HaloWorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/p7Dwv5368f
— WST (@WeAreWST) April 30, 2025

“It takes more than talent to win this, you need steeliness,” O’Sullivan, 49, said. “You are going to come up against someone really tough in the semis and final.
“You have got to stand up to the best players, so whether he can do that remains to be seen.”
The other semi-final pitted Judd Trump against Mark Williams, but seven-time world snooker champion Stephen Hendry said he was most excited by the prospect of watching Zhao face O’Sullivan.
However, he stopped short of predicting a victory for the Chinese player.
“Judd Trump is all about bullying the table, and Mark Williams is all about guile,” Hendry said. “It’s going to be incredible in the semis.
“But it’s Zhao Xintong I can’t wait to watch in a one-table situation, he has breezed through the tournament. My head says a Trump v O’Sullivan final, but it will be some story if Zhao gets to the final.”
Zhao’s run to the semi-finals has ensured that he will be in the top 64 of the world rankings when he returns to the tour next season.


Snooker star Jimmy White becomes Hong Kong resident through talent scheme

China’s new professional league not a threat to World Snooker Tour, sport’s chiefs say

China’s world snooker champion Wu Yize playing ‘perfect’ game, says ex-coach Django Fung

China launches 8-team pro snooker league, targets becoming powerhouse in sport

World Snooker

China’s Zhao Xintong into first World Championship semi-final, to face Ronnie O’Sullivan

Zhao Xintong acknowledges the crowd after his quarter-final victory over Chris Wakelin. Photo: Xinhua

China’s Lei Peifan stuns reigning snooker world champion Kyren Wilson on Crucible debut

Lei Peifan lines up a shot during his match against Kyren Wilson at the World Snooker Championship. Photo: AP

Kyren Wilson’s loss to Lei Peifan ensured the “Crucible Curse” continued. Photo: AP

Which snooker players were banned for match fixing, for how long, and what did they do?

Yan Bingtao had won the Masters in 2021 before he was investigated for match-fixing. Photo: Xinhua

Liang Wenbo was found to have not only fixed matches but solicited and pressured others. Photo: World Snooker

Lu Ning was banned for over five years for fixing and trying to cover up his involvement. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

Stephen Lee was given a 12-year ban, the longest before the latest case of 10 Chinese players. Photo: AFP

Match fixing in snooker: how it works, why gamblers exploit the sport and who detects it

Yan Bingtao pleaded guilty at the match-fixing hearing and was banned for five years. Photo: Xinhua

Liang Wenbo was the only one of the 10 Chinese players charged who did not attend their hearing. Photo: Xinhua

Suspicious betting was detected before Cao Yupeng was banned for match-fixing in 2018. Photo: World Snooker

Sport

Other Sport

Zhao takes on seven-time champion, bidding to be the first to claim Crucible title as an amateur, and become China’s first winner


Zhao takes on seven-time champion, bidding to be the first to claim Crucible title as an amateur, and become China’s first winner.


Ronnie O'Sullivan

China’s Zhao Xintong into first World Championship semi-final, to face Ronnie O’Sullivan

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Zhao takes on seven-time champion, bidding to be the first to claim Crucible title as an amateur, and become China’s first winner

Zhao takes on seven-time champion, bidding to be the first to claim Crucible title as an amateur, and become China’s first winner