Zhao Xintong produced a scintillating show to open up a 12-4 lead in opposition to seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan of their World Championship semi-final.
From an in a single day rating of 4-4, Zhao gained all eight frames on Friday morning to change into solely the fourth participant to win a session 8-0 in opposition to O’Sullivan on the Crucible.
Within the afternoon session in Sheffield, Judd Trump appeared set honest for a giant lead when he pulled 7-3 forward of Mark Williams, however the veteran Welshman reined within the 2019 champion to go away the pair at 8-8 in a single day.
Englishman O’Sullivan, 49, who has made no secret about struggling together with his cue since snapping his outdated one on the Championship League in January, determined to get a brand new tip after Thursday’s opening session in opposition to Zhao.
Nevertheless, it didn’t have the specified influence as he missed a sequence of regulation pots in opposition to an opponent who punished him in ruthless trend.
Zhao, a former UK Championship winner who’s competing as an newbie, delivered the kind of medical efficiency that implies he could also be able to change into the primary participant from China to take the title in Sheffield.
The 28-year-old compiled breaks of 112 and 115 in addition to 5 different half-centuries to take full management of the competition, incomes a standing ovation from an appreciative Crucible crowd.
Their match resumes on Friday night at 19:00 BST, with Zhao requiring 5 frames to succeed in the ultimate.
