Article by David Istrate – published on Thursday, 01 May 2025, 10:02 / Updated Thursday, 01 May 2025 10:04
Ronnie O'Sullivan (49 years old, the 5th place) qualified for the 14th time in the semifinals of the Snooker World Championship, after a 13-9 victory in front of the Chinese and Jiahui (22, the 13th place).
Ronnie O'Sullivan, the world champion septuple, succeeded on Wednesday, April 30, to expand its record in the penultimate act at Crucible. The British qualified for the 14th time in the World Championship semifinals.
Ronnie O'Sullivan, emotions in the last session of the quarterfinals
The “rocket” started excellent duel with and Jiahui and, after sharing their first 2 frames, quickly distanced to 4-1, 7-2 and then, at 9-4. The Chinese did not give up on the fight and, especially in the last session, offered a tailor-made reply, approaching its titled opponent.
The score became 10-8 and 11-9before O'Sullivan will award his last 2 frames and close the match: 13-9.
At the end of the confrontation, the champion from 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020 and 2022 continued to be autocritical:
“I escaped again from the” hook “. [Si Jiahui] He played pretty bad in the first two sessions. In the third session, he did better, but he did not end his frames so I stole a few.
I relied on other people to win and I don't feel good about it. I always feel better when I force to open and put pressure on my opponents. You feel much better when you win the match than when they lose it“, Said O'Sullivan, quoted by The42.ie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S1OEB0GT1W
Ronnie O'Sullivan, before the semifinal: “I played the worst snooker from this tour”
In the semifinals, the original Wordsley athlete will take place with a player from China. It's about Xintong Zhao (28)who started from qualifications, won 4 victories and then, at Crucible, passed by Jak Jones (10-4), lei Peifan (13-10) and Chris Wakelin (13-5).
“It will become better and it is an extraordinary talent. To come from qualifications at Crucible and to do what he has done is incredible,” O'Sullivan praised Zhao.
“I just want to go through the next match. Probably I played the worst snooker from this tournament. I feel that I was so weak that I surprised the opponents. But when you arrive in this phase you have to play well and you will have to find something to pass by Zhao Xintong“, Concluded the” rocket “.
In the other semifinal, Mark Williams (50 years old, 6th place), the triple world champion, will meet Judd Trump (35 years old, 1st World Place), who has a title in the record.
