Article by David Istrate – published on Friday, 02 May 2025 23:56 / Updated on Friday, 02 May 2025 23:56
Ronnie O'Sullivan (49 years old, 5th place) was eliminated in the semifinals at the Snooker World Championship. The “rocket” lost the second semifinal session by 0-8, and Zhao Xintong (28 years old) was leading him by 12-4. At the end of the third session, Ronnie was eliminated after losing a score of 17-7.
Ronnie O'Sullivan qualified for the 14th time in the semifinals at “Crucible”. In the penultimate act of the competition, he faced Zhao Xintong, the Chinese reached this phase, although he started from qualifications.
UPDATE. Ronnie O'Sullivan, eliminated in the semifinals from “Crucible”
The first semifinal session between Ronnie O'Sullivan and Zhao Xintong was over, score 4-4.
The second session was clearly dominated by the Chinese player, who won all 8 frames, taking the score to 12-4.
The “rocket” gave signs of return in the last session, winning the first 2 frames, but Zhao Xintong won the next 2 frames, taking the score at 14-6.
Ronnie won the next frame, but then the Chinese won 3 consecutive frames and won with the score of 17-7.
In the end, Zhao Xintong will face the winner between Mark Williams (50, 6th place) and the world leader Judd Trump (35 years old). The score after the second session is 8-8.
Ronnie O'Sullivan, the 4th time in the career when losing a session with 8-0
The first semifinal session was balanced. Xintong won the first 2 frames, then O'Sullivan awarded 3 frames and, finally, The break came in a time of total balance: 4-4.
During this morning, at the Crucible Theater in Sheffield, the second session of the semifinal began. Given the development of the confrontation yesterday, everyone was expecting an equally balanced clash.
But things were exactly the opposite. Xintong had a dominant evolution, won Frame after Frame, while the “rocket” recorded series failures. Throughout the competition, O'Sullivan warned on several occasions that his game is below expectations, but the categorical way that has obtained the previous three victories diverted attention from his evolutions.
Xintong won all 8 frames in the second session, took the score to 12-4 and is clearly favorite to qualify in the final. Instead, for O'Sullivan it is only the 4th time in the career when losing an 8-0 session.
The 3rd session of the semifinal will take place during today's evening, from 8:00 pm, live on Eurosport.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4mpwnrrmcde
Ronnie O'Sullivan, about his opponent: “It's an extraordinary talent”
It will become better and it is an extraordinary talent. To come from qualifications to Crucible and do what he has done is incredible. I just wish to pass 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
– Ronnie O'Sullivan, about Zhao Xintong, before the semifinal
