China's 28-year-old Zhao Xintong became the second Asian player to reach the final at the World Snooker Championship after stunning England's seven-time winner Ronnie O'Sullivan 17-7 in Friday's semifinal.
The two were level at 4-4 after Thursday's opening session, but Zhao seized control in session two with a flawless 8-0 run. He capitalized on O'Sullivan's off-form start, crafting high breaks and dominating the table.
With that commanding display, Zhao is now just one win away from history. A victory in the final would make him the first Asian champion – edging past Chinese compatriot Ding Junhui, who fell to Mark Selby in the 2016 decider.
Zhao's journey to this stage has been a remarkable comeback. After serving a 20-month ban for breaching betting rules, he returned to competitive play last September and secured his spot at the Crucible by winning four qualifiers as an amateur.
Meanwhile, the other semifinal saw Wales' Mark Williams rally from a 7-3 deficit to tie England's top-ranked Judd Trump at 8-8. Their match resumes on Saturday, setting the stage for another thrilling showdown.
As snooker fans around the globe tune in, all eyes will be on Zhao as he aims to complete his fairytale run and carve his name in sporting history.
Reference(s):
Zhao defeats O'Sullivan to reach final at World Snooker Championship
cgtn.com
