Ronnie O’Sullivan v Zhao Xintong live stream | World Snooker Championship semi-final preview
Ronnie O’Sullivan reacts (Photo credit: Alex Young/Every Second Media/Alamy Live News)
Ronnie O’Sullivan and Zhao Xintong face off for a date with destiny as they collide in the semi-finals of the World Snooker Championship at The Crucible.
Two mercurial attacking talents with 21 years between them go head-to-head on the sport’s greatest stage in Sheffield as they look to remain on course for a crowning glory.
O’Sullivan’s quest for a record-breaking eighth world title remains firmly on track after three serene victories so far, shrugging off any suggestion of ring-rust after his self-imposed exile since January.
After pulling out of several ranking events this season, as well as The Masters, speculation mounted over O’Sullivan’s involvement in the sport’s showpiece, but he has maintained his ever-present record at The Crucible.
Having made his debut here as a 17-year-old back in 1993, ‘The Rocket’ made the fastest professional maximum on record in 1997 and went on to claim his first world title four years later before adding a further six to equal Stephen Hendry’s tally.
However, personal turmoil curtailed much of O’Sullivan’s 2024/25 season, with his last ranking event appearance coming in November when he lost out to Barry Hawkins in Round One of the UK Championship, before snapping his cue in frustration at the Championship League in January and pulling out of the tournament.
The 41-time ranking event winner had been practicing at his purpose-built facility in Riyadh in preparation for his highly-anticipated return, where he is aiming to replicate his infamous 2013 triumph when he went on to win the world title after almost full season out of action.
The Essex icon began by brushing aside rival Ali Carter 10-4 in round one, reeling off five consecutive frames in a clinical second session, and he continued in that same ruthless vein to thrash 25-year-old Pang Junxu 13-4.
He then overcame 2023 semi-finalist Si Jiahui 13-9 on Wednesday to reach a remarkable 14th semi-final in what is his 33rd consecutive World Championship appearance.
O’Sullivan is eyeing what would be a ninth world final, three years on from his last appearance when he defeated Judd Trump in an emotional epic.
Standing in the way of The Rocket and another date with destiny is Chinese sensation Zhao – who has made up for lost time in emphatic style over the past fortnight.
The 28-year-old has now won 45 of 47 matches played since returning from a 20-month ban after he was one 10 Chinese players sanctioned in a match-fixing scandal.
Having stormed through four qualifying matches as an amateur to reach the main event for just the second time, Zhao opened up with a 10-4 rout of last year’s runner-up Jak Jones, before overcoming compatriot Lei Peifan 13-10.
He then swept aside Chris Wakelin 13-5 in the quarter-finals to reach the hallowed one-table setup and a dream clash against his snooker idol.
UK Champion in 2021, Zhao has already secured his return to the tour next season and is the latest emerging talent vying to become Asia’s first World Snooker Champion.
Zhao has faced O’Sullivan on just two occasions to date, with the seven-time World Champion prevailing in both the 2016 English Open and 2022 Champion of Champions.
The semi-final gets under way from 1pm BST on Thursday for a maximum of eight frames, before resuming from 10am and 7pm on Friday and being played to a finish over the best of 33 from 2.30pm on Saturday.
Either 2019 World Champion Judd Trump or three-time World Champion Mark Williams will await the winner in the final.
How to watch Ronnie O’Sullivan v Zhao Xintong live stream
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