- Ronnie O’Sullivan has bid to become the first player to win eight world titles
- He failed when he was beaten 17-7 by Zhao Xintong in the semi-finals
Ronnie O’Sullivan had no complaints after being beaten by the rising star of China Zhao Xintong in the semi-final of the world championship.
Having been equal to 4-4 overnight, Zhao dominated Thursday’s opening session, winning the eight images to move into an advance of 12-4.
He then kept his composure in the evening to fill a categorical victory of 17-7, sealing his place in the final with a session to lose.
O’Sullivan had finished three games to reach the last four after four months of snooker to protect his mental health, but he could not keep the pace with Zhao and later admitted that he simply had not played well enough to compete.
“Zhao played well, he deserved his victory,” O’Sullivan told BBC Four.
“I think he brilliantly did any tournament and all credit to Zhao. He played better than me.
Ronnie O’Sullivan suffered a heavy defeat in her semi-final of the world championship
He admitted that he had played a “horrible” match when he was beaten 17-7 by Zhao Xintong
O’Sullivan conceded that Zhao fully deserved his victory after dominating Friday’s action
By reflecting on his difficulties in the morning session, the seven times world champion added: “I have been horrible for a long time, these performances are there, they go out regularly.”
After taking the time of the game, O’Sullivan received a large reception of the crucible crowd throughout the tournament, but the 49-year-old man suggested that his performance below the word led him to have trouble enjoying his race in the semi-finals.
On his desire to play, O’Sullivan said: “I would like it to be (over there), I would just like to play well and I just felt that I never gave him a game, so it’s a little disappointing.”
O’Sullivan remains level on seven world titles with Stephen Hendry. He won the tournament for the last time in 2022 and hoped to go beyond the Great Scottish this year.
But he rarely looked comfortable in Sheffield when he changed his signal and fiddled during the matches.
He did not find the winning formula and will now have to look at the final from the house, with Zhao who will face Judd Trump or Mark Williams, who are currently locked up at 8-8 in the semi-finals.
