Steve Sutcliffe

BBC Sport journalist at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

Zhao Xintong produced a scintillating display of potting to open up a 12-4 lead against seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan in their World Championship semi-final.

With the overnight score at 4-4, Zhao took all eight frames on Friday morning to become only the fourth player to win a session 8-0 against O’Sullivan at the Crucible.

Englishman O’Sullivan, 49, who has made no secret about struggling with his cue since snapping his old one at the Championship League in January, decided to get a new tip and make further changes after Thursday’s opening session.

However, it did not have the desired impact as he missed a series of regulation pots against an opponent who punished him in ruthless fashion.

Zhao, a former UK Championship winner who is competing as an amateur, delivered the sort of clinical performance that suggests he may be ready to become the first player from China to take the title in Sheffield.

The 28-year-old compiled breaks of 112 and 115 as well as five other half-centuries to take complete control of the contest, earning a standing ovation from an appreciative Crucible crowd.

Their match resumes on Friday evening at 19:00 BST, with Zhao requiring five frames to reach the final.

World number one Judd Trump carries a 5-3 lead into the second session of his semi-final against three-time world champion Mark Williams, in a match that resumes at 14:30, with snooker coverage from 14:00 on BBC Two and the BBC Sport website and app.

John Higgins and Graeme Dott both whitewashed O’Sullivan in sessions on their way to Crucible titles in 1998 and 2006, while John Parrott did the same back in 1994 on only O’Sullivan’s second appearance in snooker’s blue-riband event.

However, to see it happen on O’Sullivan’s 33rd appearance at the event only served to underline his comments – dismissed in some quarters – that he had only reached this last-four stage due to shortcomings of his previous opponents.

His problems from long range were particularly evident against Ali Carter, Pang Junxu and Si Jiahui, but he also toiled when presented with good opportunities to make sizeable contributions of his own.

And the decision to change the ferrule on his cue – the metal part of the cue near the top which affects the amount of side and swerve you can apply to the white – from titanium to the more traditional brass did not reap any rewards.

Instead, Zhao, who O’Sullivan has mentored at times, showcased his full repertoire of shots as he seeks a 46th victory from 48 matches since returning from a 20-month ban.

He was one 10 players from China sanctioned in a match-fixing scandal. While Zhao did not directly throw a match, he accepted charges of being a party to another player fixing two matches and betting on matches himself.

As a result of that suspension he lost his place on the World Snooker Tour, and he had to win four qualifying matches to earn a Crucible spot. On this evidence he could return to the professional tour as world champion next term.

Ken Doherty, 1997 world champion on BBC Two: “Zhao Xintong almost looks born for this stage. The shots he is playing, he is making the game look so easy. He’s getting help from Ronnie O’Sullivan, who is causing problems for himself by leaving easy chances to a player with a hot cue. Ronnie is probably a little bit embarrassed about what’s happening out there. He’s not fighting. He could have come to the table and played some snookers but is not bothering and that’s worrying.”

John Parrott, 1991 world champion on BBC Two: “This has been absolutely brilliant from Zhao Xintong. We are used to giving the man sat in the chair the plaudits but this has been absolutely fabulous from Zhao. Ronnie has not been at the races but boy has Zhao played well.”

John Virgo, 1979 UK champion on BBC Two: “It’s been absolutely wonderful from Zhao Xintong. Eight frames played and he’s won all of them. Take a bow, Zhao. Ronnie O’Sullivan will have been impressed with that performance, but not with his own.”

Joseph Hadfield: “Incredible snooker at the Crucible. Complete contrast in performances. Ronnie O’Sullivan’s almost non-existent. So many missed chances. Almost flawless from Zhao Xintong.”

Sam Wxm: “Zhao broke table yesterday, this morning he’s just whitewashed Ronnie and now he’s five frames from beating Ronnie and reaching final with session to spare. Never mind blink-and-you-miss-it Ronnie, blink-and-you-miss eight frames of rapid snooker. What a session from Zhao.”

AnnieRoadL4: “That session of snooker was just sad to watch. Like watching Muhammad Ali fight Larry Holmes. There’s nothing there anymore. Father time has caught up with Ronnie and his days of winning triple crowns are sadly over.”

Nick from London: “Why should Ronnie play for snookers? Ronnie is off form, and a new tip. He is trying. Zhao is great and was the favourite.”

Spencer: “Ronnie should stop now. He is clearly not enjoying it, and nobody who remembers how good he was wants to watch him play this badly”

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