O'sullivan Loses Session 8-0 As Zhao Dazzles At Crucible

Zhao Xintong produced a scintillating show of potting to unfastened up a 12-4 lead against seven-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan successful their World Championship semi-final.

With nan overnight people astatine 4-4, Zhao took each 8 frames connected Friday greeting to go only nan 4th subordinate to triumph a convention 8-0 against O'Sullivan astatine nan Crucible.

Englishman O'Sullivan, 49, who has made nary concealed astir struggling pinch his cue since snapping his aged 1 astatine nan Championship League successful January, made nan determination to switch his titanium ferrule pinch a brass type and get a caller extremity aft Thursday's opening session.

However, it did not person nan desired effect arsenic he missed a bid of regularisation pots against an force who punished him successful ruthless fashion.

Zhao, a erstwhile UK Championship victor who is competing arsenic an amateur, was objective among nan balls and delivered nan benignant of capacity that suggests he whitethorn beryllium fresh to go nan first subordinate from China to return nan title successful Sheffield.

The 28-year-old compiled breaks of 112 and 115 arsenic good arsenic 5 different half-centuries to return complete power of nan contest, earning a opinionated ovation from an appreciative Crucible crowd.