The Rocket was hammered 17-7 as the first semi-final of the 2025 World Snooker Championship concluded with a session to spare on Friday.
O’Sullivan, struggling with low confidence in his cue and form, couldn’t live with the barrage of big breaks that his young opponent produced.
The 49 year-old was forced to experience what he himself had inflicted on so many in similar situations at the Crucible Theatre in the past.
Zhao compiled a hat-trick of century breaks and added a dozen more half-century contributions as he raced clear.
Most of the damage was done in the second session where the 28 year-old managed to assert complete control by taking all eight frames of play.
O’Sullivan openly admitted earlier in the tournament that his first three challengers had not taken advantage of his below-par standard.
Ali Carter, Pang Junxu, and Si Jiahui each had opportunities to put pressure on the seven-time champion but were ultimately swept aside with too much ease.
But as soon as a player began to exert proper pressure, O’Sullivan had no answers.
Rather than focus on his own downfall, the 49 year-old made sure to herald Zhao’s terrific performance as he reached a World Championship final for the first time.
“Yes and no,” Ronnie O’Sullivan said in his post-match press conference when asked if he took pride in battling his way so far in the tournament despite not being in form.
“He played great, you have to give the credit where it’s due. He was the better player for the whole match.”
“We’ve got a really nice relationship, and I’m always trying to help him if I can. He obviously wanted the crowd to give me a clap at the end.
“But that was Zhao’s moment. That’s why I tried to get off as quickly as I could, because it’s his moment to enjoy.
“I think it would be amazing [for the game if he won it]. If he did, he’d be a megastar – he’s very big in China as it is.
“But if he becomes the world champion, it would be unbelievable. It would just be amazing for snooker and for his life as well.
“He can definitely get over the line, but I think he’ll have more of a test against the other two guys in the semis.
“I think that’ll be a proper test for him.”
Zhao, who will face Mark Williams in the final, is the new favourite in the outright betting market with odds of 8/11 to win the title for the first time.
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After the first session of the semi-final was left delicately poised at 4-4 on Thursday, O’Sullivan made the drastic decision to make significant changes to his cue.
The world number five, who snapped his old cue in January, replaced the tip and the ferrule in an effort to rediscover his old form in time to challenge properly for the title.
It brought back memories of his 2006 semi-final with Graeme Dott when, with the scores ties at 7-7, O’Sullivan changed his tip before subsequently losing all eight frames of the third session upon a shock defeat to the Scot.
“Sometimes, you’ve just got to try something different,” O’Sullivan said about his move on Thursday. “It didn’t feel great before, so I tried to go back to the old brass ferrule.”
“I won’t throw it [the cue]. The merchandise people want it – it’ll be up for sale – so I won’t be throwing it.”
There will be many wondering what will come next for the 23-time champion of Triple Crown events.
O’Sullivan ends the 2024/25 snooker season without any silverware to show for it – only the second campaign in his entire career where that has happened.
Upon his return from a self-inflicted three-month hiatus from the sport, he had said that he was ready to dedicate another two years of his life to snooker in an attempt to find his best form again.
But after suffering defeat in the penultimate round in Sheffield for the sixth time in his 33-year professional career, he was less forthright.
“I don’t really know, to be honest. There’s going to be a few changes in my life, so I’ll see how that goes. I don’t know.”
Zhao Xintong, meanwhile, said that he couldn’t believe his accomplishment of beating one of his heroes.
The 28 year-old, who has long sought advice from Ronnie O’Sullivan and visited the former world number one’s dressing room after the match to show his gratitude.
In a touching moment shared on social media by Victoria Shi – who takes care of Zhao and a lot of other players at her academy in Sheffield – Zhao and O’Sullivan had a warm embrace.
Zhao will look to become the first Chinese snooker world champion when he faces Mark Williams in the final on Sunday and Monday.
For the full 2025 World Snooker Championship draw, results, and schedule, click here.
