Overview

• Zhao Xintong whitewashed Ronnie O’Sullivan 8-0 in the Friday morning session, taking a commanding 12-4 lead in their best-of-33 semi-final match.
• O’Sullivan’s decision to change his cue tip and ferrule overnight backfired, contributing to one of the worst sessions of his storied career.
• Zhao showcased exceptional form with breaks of 57, 112, 82, 67, 115, and 87, punishing O’Sullivan for every error.
• This marks only the fourth session whitewash O’Sullivan has suffered at the Crucible, highlighting Zhao’s dominance and composure.
• In the other semi-final, Judd Trump holds a 5-3 lead over Mark Williams, setting the stage for a potential generational shift in snooker’s competitive landscape.