The 2025 World Championship is over for Ronnie as he was beaten, and well beaten, by Zhao Xintong yesterday afternoon. Here is the report shared by WST:

Zhao On The Brink Of History After Flooring O’Sullivan

Zhao Xintong is just one match away from becoming the first Asian player to conquer the Crucible as he reached the final of the Halo World Championship with a 17-7 victory over Ronnie O’Sullivan, one of the heaviest defeats of the Rocket’s career.

China’s Zhao could become a megastar to the hundreds of millions of fans in his homeland if he can break new ground by lifting the famous trophy on Monday night. Ding Junhui – the Godfather of Chinese snooker – is the only other Asian player to reach the final, and he was beaten by Mark Selby in 2016. Zhao can now dream of eclipsing Ding’s achievement, though first he will have to beat Judd Trump or Mark Williams over a possible 35 frames on Sunday and Monday.

Zhao is already enjoying the deepest ever run by an amateur in snooker’s biggest event and, having won four matches just to make it to the Crucible, he could join Terry Griffiths and Shaun Murphy as the only qualifiers to land the sport’s biggest prize. Having turned 28 last month, he would be the youngest winner since Murphy back in 2005. Sheffield-based Zhao is into the third ranking event final of his career and won the previous two, at the 2021 UK Championship and 2022 German Masters.

Playing with panache and a rapid attacking style, Zhao blew O’Sullivan away in the second session on Saturday morning, winning eight consecutive frames to move 12-4 ahead. Seven-time Crucible king O’Sullivan briefly threatened to rally when he won the first two frames tonight but – clearly struggling with his technique – the 49-year-old made too many unforced errors and from 14-6 it was clear his hopes were fading. Snooker’s greatest ever player eventually fell with a session to spare, his biggest defeat since he lost 13-3 to John Parrott in the second round here in 1994.

Zhao is now guaranteed £200,000 and a place in the top 32 of the Johnstone’s Paint World Rankings, and that would rise to £500,000 and a top 16 spot with the title. 

In the opening frame tonight, Zhao trailed 49-18 when he under-cut a red to a centre pocket, allowing O’Sullivan to make 37 to narrow his deficit to 12-5. Frame 18 came down to the colours and O’Sullivan trapped his opponent in a tough snooker on the brown then took the chance that followed to pull another one back. But in the next, trailing 45-0, the Englishman failed on a red to top corner and that left Zhao the chance to settle any nerves with a break of 62. A tremendous 128 total clearance, the 100th century of the tournament, left Zhao 14-6 clear at the interval. 

O’Sullivan’s break of 57 helped him take frame 21, only for Zhao to hit back again with a quickfire 85 for 15-7. A missed red to corner from O’Sullivan early in frame 23 let Zhao in for a run of 63 to move to the brink of victory. Again in the 24th, O’Sullivan had an early chance, but ran out of position on 32, and a loose safety proved his last shot as Zhao rattled in a run of 88, before being embraced by his beaten opponent on the arena floor.

“In the past, when I played Ronnie, I’d get nervous because I really wanted to win, but I didn’t put too much pressure on myself this time,” said Zhao, who had won just one match in two previous visits to the Crucible. “Today I felt a lot more relaxed and enjoyed it, and I ended up playing pretty well. He gave me a few chances, and I took them.

“Tonight I could feel that the whole crowd was cheering for Ronnie. But honestly, I think he deserves it. He’s won here seven times already, and he absolutely has the ability to win an eighth. That’s why I told myself not to relax, because I know he’s someone who can come back from almost any scoreline. I just tried to focus on one shot at a time and make the most of every chance he gave me.

“This tournament feels totally unique. For Chinese and Asian players, no one has won it yet. Every match win here is incredibly difficult. Even though I’ve made it to the final, there’s still a long way to go.

“These past few years, I’ve been working hard to improve my game in practice. Now my shot selections are more reasonable and solid. If I play Mark Williams in the final, I’ll give it my best. I don’t think there’s any other sport where someone can still achieve so much at the age of 50. I have huge respect for Ronnie and Mark, what they’re doing is incredible. If I play Judd Trump it will be the ultimate test. I know how strong he is now, he hardly makes mistakes. I’ll have to be at my absolute best just to keep up.”

O’Sullivan, who changed the tip and ferrule of his cue on Thursday after the first session but to no avail, said: “Zhao played great. We have a really nice relationship and I am always trying to help him if I can. It was his moment to enjoy at the end of the match. It would be amazing for snooker and for him if he becomes World Champion. He will have more of a test against Mark or Judd, that will be a proper test. I at a loss about my game, I don’t know where the white ball is going. I wasn’t that surprised because I have been playing like that in practice and I don’t know how to fix it.“

It wasn’t to be for Ronnie and it’s a very heavy defeat. Yes, it’s disappointing, but we have to remember that only two weeks ago we weren’t even sure he would play, and he went on to reach the semi-finals… that certainly exceeded the expectations I had at the start of the Championship. I’m happy he played, happy he gave it his best and happy he reached the semi-finals

Changing his tip and ferule mid-match didn’t work at all. Some will blame him. I won’t. I remember too many occasions where he took bold decisions: when it worked he was branded a genius, when it didn’t he was blamed for trying.

Before the match Ronnie had said that he was giving himself two more years. Right after this defeat, he wasn’t so sure but I’m not reading too much into that. Hurting, right after a defeat, is not the time to make decisions.

Here are the scores of that match, showing clearly that the damage was done in that disastrous second session, the first and the last were much closer and it also shows that Ronnie was unable to score heavily after he tinkered with the tip and ferule. During the two last sessions he had only one break over 50, a mere 57. Very unlike him.

Here is some of what he had to say to the press“

‘I’m at a loss to be honest with you,’ he said. ‘I have lost what I used to have. I’m so confused. It feels really a struggle.

‘I don’t know if it was me, the cue tip or the ferrule. I didn’t know where the white ball was going.’

On the surprisingly one-sided result, he said: ‘I wasn’t surprised. I have been playing like that in practice. It’s hard to get my head around. I can’t even fix it, that’s the problem, I don’t know if I can fix it.

‘I want to give it two years but if you play like that, it’s pretty pointless. It’s not good.

‘I have been like that for four years, trying to grind it out. I haven’t had a clue where the cue ball was going. I have been willing it in the hole.

‘I don’t know how to correct the fault. That is the worrying thing. I am so far away – I don’t even know where to begin.’

Zhao was keen to whip up a round of applause for O’Sullivan after the final ball was potted, but the Rocket wanted to give the winner his moment after an epic victory.

‘We’ve got a really nice relationship,’ said O’Sullivan. ‘I’m always trying to help him if I can and he wanted the crowd to give me a clap at the end but it was Zhao’s moment so I tried to get off as quickly as I could because it was his moment.’

He added: ‘He played great, you’ve got to give credit where it’s due, he was the better player in the whole match.

‘He can definitely get over the line, I think he’ll have more of a test against the other two guys in the semis. I think that will be a proper test for him.’

It was a nice gesture from Zhao to applaud Ronnie as he left. In many ways, this match showed some of the very best aspects of sports. The older champion still trying but knowing his best years are past him and keen to help young talents to develop. The young up-and-coming talent showing respect and gratitude.

Here are some more quotes by Zhao:

“He’s my idol. To be honest I didn’t want to win this time because I wanted to see him win his eighth here.

“But I won and I know I needed to play well because before the match I didn’t think I could win.

“I know he’s a legend and everyone wanted him to win this tournament and I could feel that.

“I know it’ll be really hard (to win the title). Everyone says no Chinese player has won this before but I’ll just try to enjoy today.

And this was shared by Victoria Shi on facebook

Straight after the match Xintong went to Ronnie’s dressing room. He thanked him for his help and support, without which he wouldn’t have got to the final so quickly.

Xintong Ronnie