“Zhao Sintun made a 7-time champion sit on a chair all the second session”, – WRITE: Sport.ua
O’Sallevhan had huge problems with the game, he was bendled several times at decisive moments. And the 28-year-old Zhao showed a brilliant shape: two Senchuri and five more breaks over 50 points allowed him to go into the separation from 4: 4 to the huge advantage of 12: 4. Chinese Zhao – only in 5 Frames to become the second Asian player in the finals after Dina Junhhi, who gave way to Mark Slby in 2016. This is the deepest passage of the amateur at the world championships. To get on Zhao Crusions, he won four matches in qualification.
This is only the fourth case when O’Sallavan loses the 0: 8 session on Crucib: previously, this happened in the second round against John Parrot (1994), in the semi -finals with John Higgins (1998) and Graham Dott (2006). It is the 14th semi-final of the rocket circulation: after the defeat of five from the first seven (until 2006), he won six semifinals in a row.
In order to continue the series, Ronnie will need to be done, perhaps the best cabec in 33 years of career. Only two players managed to play a similar lag: Dennis Taylor, who in the 1985 finals was inferior to Steve Davis 0: 8, and Luke Bresel, who lost 5:14 in the semifinals two years ago, but won 17:15.
Zhao, based in Sheffield, has never passed the 1/8 finals on Cruzib. He now claims the third rating ending in his career – he won the two previous ones (2021 UK Championship and 2022 German Masters).
After the first session on Thursday, O’Sallawan changed the insertion of Kyi from Titanova to brass. In the first frame of the second session, he had a chance for a series, but, scoring 23 points, beaten a red ball from the board. Zhao answered a break in 57 (score 5: 4). The following were series in 112 and 82 (account 7: 4). In the 12th Freym Zhao scored 57, O’Sallawan tried to answer, but with 22 points in the asset, did not bring red in a corner and again losing himself (4: 8).
After the break, Zhao’s pressure did not decrease: Brack 67 then 115 – his third Senchuri at the tournament (score 10: 4). In the 15th Freym, O’Sallawan had a chance, but again limited to 22 points. This time, he roasted yellow in the corner alkal, and later red along the board, which allowed Zhao to dial another 37 (score 11: 4). In the final frame of the session, Ronnie took 28: 0, but missed the blue ball in the center, Zhao again punished him, making a break 87 (score 12: 4).
Ronnie and Zhao will be released for the third session on May 2 at 9:00 pm for Kiev, and another 8 frames are planned. If Zhao wins five of them – the match will end ahead of schedule. Otherwise, the fight will continue on Saturday, May 3 at 4:30 pm.
2025 World Championship with Snukera
Sheffield (England), April 19 – May 5
1/2 finals, 02.05.2025
- 12:00. Zhao Sintun (China) – Ronny O’Sallawan (England) [5] – 12: 4 (second session)
- 16:30. Mark Williams (Wales) [6] – Judd Trump (England) [2] – 3: 5 (second session)
- 21:00. Zhao Sintun (China) – Ronny O’Sallawan (England) [5] (third session)
Zhao Sintun (China) – Ronny O’Sallaw (England) – 12: 4 (second session)
Photo gallery
Video match