Zhao Xintong of China advances to the World Championship semi-finals, set to square off against Ronnie O'Sullivan.
Zhao Xintong, the ambitious 28-year-old from China, is gunning for a groundbreaking victory at the World Snooker Championship, aiming to become the first amateur to claim the prestigious title. This dream came closer to reality as he secured a spot in the semis, after a thrilling victory over Chris Wakelin (13-5) and Ronnie O'Sullivan's triumph against fellow countryman Si Jiahui (13-9).
Zhao stepped onto the stage in Sheffield's Crucible Theatre for his first-ever best-of-33 semi-final bout with O'Sullivan, eyes gleaming with determination. Reflecting on his childhood, watching snooker's semis and finals on TV, he confessed, "I used to think it was such a powerful image. And now that I'm standing there myself, I feel really happy." He added with a glint in his eye, "Of course, I still hope I can go one step further and win the semi-final, maybe even challenge for the title."
However, amidst the excitement, Zhao admitted that maintaining his intensity throughout the grueling tournament had been a challenge for him. While his amateur status might seem like a hurdle, it only fueled his competitive spirit even more.
Curiously, Zhao's semi-final appearance triggered a seldom-used rankings clause for amateur players. His professional status for the ensuing season was already secured, thanks to outstanding performances on the Q Tour amateur circuit. In 2023, Zhao earned a brief setback as he was suspended for breaching betting regulations, which led to a 20-month hiatus. Despite this obstacle, he staged a remarkable comeback, proving that even a temporary ban couldn't hold him back.
With his resilience and skills intact, Zhao now stood on the brink of history, poised to become not only the first world champion from China but also the first from Asia. Whether he takes the final leap remains to be seen, but there's no denying that Zhao is making waves in the snooker world.
Zhao Xintong, holding onto his determination, took to the stage at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre for a historic best-of-33 semi-final match against Ronnie O'Sullivan, reminiscing about his childhood dreams of watching snooker's semis and finals on TV, feeling a profound sense of happiness as he stood where he once only dared to dream. After a remarkable journey, even a brief setback due to a breaching of betting regulations in 2023 couldn't halt his progress as he continued to make waves in the snooker world, aiming to breach another barrier by becoming the first world champion from Asia.
