Ronnie O'Sullivan lost all eight frames in a session at the Crucible for the first time since 2006 as he fell 12-4 behind against an inspired Zhao Xintong in the semi-finals of the Halo World Championship.
O'Sullivan, clearly struggling with his game, missed several crucial pots at key moments, and was no match for 28-year-old Zhao who made two centuries and five more breaks of 50 in a tremendous display as he pulled away from 4-4 to establish a huge advantage. China's Zhao is just five frames away from becoming the second Asian player to reach the final, after Ding Junhui who was runner-up to Mark Selby in 2016. He is already enjoying the deepest run by an amateur in this event, and won four qualifying matches just to make it to the Crucible.
It's the fourth time O'Sullivan has lost a session here 8-0; that occurred in the second round against John Parrott in 1994, in the semi-finals against John Higgins in 1998 and again in the semis against Graeme Dott in 2006. This is the Rocket's 14th Crucible semi-final and after losing five of his first seven up until 2006, he has since won six in a row. To keep that streak going he will need arguably the best fight-back of his 33-year career. Only two players have recovered a deficit of this magnitude to win matches at the Theatre of Dreams: Dennis Taylor who trailed Steve Davis 8-0 early in the 1985 final, and Luca Brecel who came from 14-5 down to beat Si Jiahui 17-15 in the semis two years ago.
Sheffield-based Zhao, who had never previously been beyond the last 16 at the Crucible, is looking to reach his third ranking final and won the previous two at the 2021 UK Championship and 2022 German Masters.
O'Sullivan, who is reported to have changed his cue ferrule from titanium to a brass version after the first session on Thursday, had a scoring chance in the opening frame today but on 23 he missed a tricky red, cueing from the side cushion. Zhao capitalised with a run of 57 to lead 5-4 then fired breaks of 112 and 82 to go 7-4 up. In frame 12, Zhao made 57, then O'Sullivan had an opportunity to counter but on 22 he under-cut a red to a top corner and soon found himself further behind.
After the interval, the Zhao barrage continued as a break of 67 made it 9-4 and he followed up with a 115, his third century of the tournament. O'Sullivan had first chance in frame 15 but again made only 22 before missing the yellow to a baulk corner, and he later failed on a tough red along the side cushion, letting Zhao in for 37 for 11-4. In the last of the session, O'Sullivan led 28-0 when he missed a straight-forward blue to centre, and again his opponent punished him with a superb 87.
They return at 7pm tonight for eight more frames, and if Zhao wins five of those he will end the match a session early. Otherwise they will return on Saturday at 2.30pm for the conclusion.