Ronnie O’Sullivan left stony-faced as World Championship semi-final clash descends into chaos
Zhao Xintong produced a bizarre moment during his World Snooker Championship semi-final against Ronnie O’Sullivan. The pair began their best-of-33 frames encounter at the Crucible on Thursday afternoon with fans expecting fireworks – and they got it. BBC SportZhao broke the table during the final frame of the opening session[/caption] BBC SportThe Chinese cueist snapped the netting on the ball runner after a series of pots[/caption] After taking a 2-0 lead, the Chinese amateur dropped three consecutive frames to O’Sullivan to fall behind. Zhao and the Rocket then traded frames as the session ended all-square at 4-4. However, the final frame of the afternoon descended into chaos after Zhao broke a ball runner on the table. After potting a series of reds to the bottom right pocket, he lined up a black to the same corner. The netting holding up the pocket could no longer withhold the pressure from his shots, though. As a result, Zhao inadvertently damaged the pocket as he rolled in the black. It prompted a red to crash to the floor, which was met with an immediate ‘Ooooh!’ from the crowd. Meanwhile, O’Sullivan sat stony-faced as he watched his opponent wrap up the frame and level the match. Zhao was undeterred as he completed a break of 85 whilst the fallen red lay on the floor next to the table. The bizarre moment also stunned the BBC commentators as Dennis Taylor exclaimed: “Well, has he broken the pocket? He has! That was a real pocket breaker.” BBC SportO’Sullivan remained stony-faced as the crowd reacted to the bizarre moment[/caption] BBC SportZhao held on to wrap up the frame and level the semi-final at 4-4[/caption] Meanwhile, seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry quipped: “Good job it’s the last frame! Great temperament he’s shown in this frame, Zhao Xintong.” Zhao and O’Sullivan will resume their clash on Friday morning with the second of four scheduled sessions. The Englishman is aiming to reach his ninth World Snooker Championship final. Of his previous eight, he has won seven to tie with Hendry for the most world titles in the modern era. A victory over Zhao will set up a final against either Mark Williams or Judd Trump. The other semi-final got underway on Thursday evening with its opening session in Sheffield. O’Sullivan has produced an impressive run so far at the tournament by reaching the semi-finals. It comes after he took a three-month hiatus leading into the event, having withdrawn from multiple tournaments for medical reasons. His first round match against Ali Carter marked the 49-year-old’s first competition action since January. He has since seen off both Pang Junxu and Si Jiahui at the Crucible to make the last four.
Zhao Xintong produced a bizarre moment during his World Snooker Championship semi-final against Ronnie O’Sullivan.
The pair began their best-of-33 frames encounter at the Crucible on Thursday afternoon with fans expecting fireworks – and they got it.
After taking a 2-0 lead, the Chinese amateur dropped three consecutive frames to O’Sullivan to fall behind.
Zhao and the Rocket then traded frames as the session ended all-square at 4-4.
However, the final frame of the afternoon descended into chaos after Zhao broke a ball runner on the table.
After potting a series of reds to the bottom right pocket, he lined up a black to the same corner.
The netting holding up the pocket could no longer withhold the pressure from his shots, though.
As a result, Zhao inadvertently damaged the pocket as he rolled in the black.
It prompted a red to crash to the floor, which was met with an immediate ‘Ooooh!’ from the crowd.
Meanwhile, O’Sullivan sat stony-faced as he watched his opponent wrap up the frame and level the match.
Zhao was undeterred as he completed a break of 85 whilst the fallen red lay on the floor next to the table.
The bizarre moment also stunned the BBC commentators as Dennis Taylor exclaimed: “Well, has he broken the pocket? He has! That was a real pocket breaker.”
Meanwhile, seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry quipped: “Good job it’s the last frame! Great temperament he’s shown in this frame, Zhao Xintong.”
Zhao and O’Sullivan will resume their clash on Friday morning with the second of four scheduled sessions.
The Englishman is aiming to reach his ninth World Snooker Championship final.
Of his previous eight, he has won seven to tie with Hendry for the most world titles in the modern era.
A victory over Zhao will set up a final against either Mark Williams or Judd Trump.
The other semi-final got underway on Thursday evening with its opening session in Sheffield.
O’Sullivan has produced an impressive run so far at the tournament by reaching the semi-finals.
It comes after he took a three-month hiatus leading into the event, having withdrawn from multiple tournaments for medical reasons.
His first round match against Ali Carter marked the 49-year-old’s first competition action since January.
He has since seen off both Pang Junxu and Si Jiahui at the Crucible to make the last four.
