Ronnie O’Sullivan Knocked Out of World Snooker Championship in Semi-Finals, Dramatically Misses Out on Final

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN has been eliminated from the World Snooker Championship in the semi-finals after a 7-17 loss to Zhao Xintong.

O’Sullivan will have to wait longer to achieve his goal of surpassing Stephen Hendry’s record of seven World Snooker titles, as he missed reaching another Crucible final.

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The 49-year-old O’Sullivan suffered a significant defeat against the newcomer Zhao, who recently returned from a 20-month suspension due to a match-fixing scandal.

O’Sullivan’s entry into the tournament surprised many, especially after he had missed five events in 2025 due to health concerns.

However, he showcased his talent by defeating Si Jiahui, Junxu Pang, and his longstanding rival Ali Carter to secure a record 33rd consecutive semi-final appearance at the World Championships.

No one was more surprised than O’Sullivan himself, who, using a new cue, labeled his performance as “awful,” likening himself to a swan.

This mindset could have contributed to his performance against Zhao, who took control during Friday’s sessions, clinching victory with a session to spare.

As the score reached four frames each, O’Sullivan made the unexpected choice to replace the tip of his cue MID MATCH.

After returning to the table, Zhao won ALL EIGHT frames, astonishing the audience at the Crucible in Sheffield.

The evening session was more balanced, but Zhao’s early lead proved insurmountable for O’Sullivan.

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Now, the 28-year-old Zhao will compete against the winner of Judd Trump vs. Mark Williams in the final on Sunday.

The Chinese Cyclone made his comeback to the amateur circuit last September after a 20-month suspension for match-fixing involvement.

Ronnie O’Sullivan gives concerning interview despite World Snooker Championship victory

Zhao was found guilty of betting on match outcomes over a three-year period and was implicated in fixing two snooker matches.

While he did not actively fix a match himself, he received a lighter sentence than others due to his early admissions and guilty plea.

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