Ronnie O’Sullivan stated that Zhao Xintong would develop into a “megastar” if he can develop into the primary world snooker champion from China.
The Rocket was hammered 17-7 as the primary semi-final of the 2025 World Snooker Championship concluded with a session to spare on Friday.
O’Sullivan, scuffling with low confidence in his cue and type, couldn’t reside with the barrage of huge breaks that his younger opponent produced.
The 49 year-old was compelled to expertise what he himself had inflicted on so many in comparable conditions on the Crucible Theatre previously.
Zhao compiled a hat-trick of century breaks and added a dozen extra half-century contributions as he raced clear.
Many of the harm was performed within the second session the place the 28 year-old managed to say full management by taking all eight frames of play.
O’Sullivan overtly admitted earlier within the match that his first three challengers had not taken benefit of his below-par customary.
Ali Carter, Pang Junxu, and Si Jiahui every had alternatives to place strain on the seven-time champion however have been finally swept apart with an excessive amount of ease.
However as quickly as a participant started to exert correct strain, O’Sullivan had no solutions.
Reasonably than concentrate on his personal downfall, the 49 year-old made positive to herald Zhao’s terrific efficiency as he reached a World Championship last for the primary time.
“Sure and no,” Ronnie O’Sullivan stated in his post-match press convention when requested if he took delight in battling his method thus far within the match regardless of not being in type.
“He performed nice, you need to give the credit score the place it’s due. He was the higher participant for the entire match.”
“We’ve acquired a very nice relationship, and I’m at all times making an attempt to assist him if I can. He clearly needed the group to provide me a clap on the finish.
“However that was Zhao’s second. That’s why I attempted to get off as rapidly as I may, as a result of it’s his second to take pleasure in.
“I feel it might be superb [for the game if he won it]. If he did, he’d be a megastar – he’s very massive in China as it’s.
“But when he turns into the world champion, it might be unbelievable. It could simply be superb for snooker and for his life as properly.
“He can undoubtedly recover from the road, however I feel he’ll have extra of a take a look at in opposition to the opposite two guys within the semis.
“I feel that’ll be a correct take a look at for him.”
After the primary session was left delicately poised at 4-4 on Thursday, O’Sullivan made the drastic choice to make vital adjustments to his cue.
The world quantity 5, who snapped his previous cue in January, changed the tip and the ferrule in an effort to rediscover his previous type in time to problem correctly for the title.
It introduced again reminiscences of his 2006 semi-final with Graeme Dott when, with the scores ties at 7-7, O’Sullivan modified his tip earlier than subsequently dropping all eight frames of the third session upon a shock defeat to the Scot.
“Generally, you’ve simply acquired to strive one thing totally different,” O’Sullivan stated about his transfer on Thursday. “It didn’t really feel nice earlier than, so I attempted to return to the previous brass ferrule.”
“I gained’t throw it [the cue]. The merchandise individuals need it – it’ll be up on the market – so I gained’t be throwing it.”
There will probably be many questioning what is going to come subsequent for the 23-time champion of Triple Crown occasions.
O’Sullivan ends the 2024/25 snooker season with none silverware to point out for it – solely the second marketing campaign in his whole profession the place that has occurred.
Upon his return from a self-inflicted three-month hiatus from the game, he had stated that he was able to dedicate one other two years of his life to snooker in an try to seek out his finest type once more.
However after struggling defeat within the penultimate spherical in Sheffield for the sixth time in his 33-year skilled profession, he was much less forthright.
“I don’t actually know, to be trustworthy. There’s going to be a number of adjustments in my life, so I’ll see how that goes. I don’t know.”
Zhao Xintong, in the meantime, stated that he couldn’t imagine his accomplishment of beating one in all his heroes.
The 28 year-old has lengthy sought recommendation from Ronnie O’Sullivan and visited the previous world primary’s dressing room after the match to point out his gratitude.
In a touching second shared on social media by Victoria Shi – who takes care of Zhao and quite a lot of different gamers at her academy in Sheffield – Zhao and O’Sullivan had a heat embrace.
Zhao will look to develop into the primary Chinese language snooker world champion when he faces both Judd Trump or Mark Williams within the last on Sunday and Monday.
The second semi-final is locked at 8-8 heading into the third and penultimate session on Saturday morning.
For the total 2025 World Snooker Championship draw, outcomes, and schedule, click on right here.
Featured photograph credit score: WST
