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."