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

O’Sullivan has missed the chance to reach another Crucible final and will have to wait longer to surpass Stephen Hendry’s record of seven World Snooker titles.

Ronnie O'Sullivan reacting during a snooker match.

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Ronnie O’Sullivan has exited the World Snooker ChampionshipCredit: Reuters
Zhao Xintong reacting at a snooker match.

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Zhao Xintong defeated the Rocket in the semi-finalCredit: Reuters

The Rocket, now 49 years old, faced a significant setback against the amateur Zhao, who has recently returned after a 20-month suspension due to a match-fixing scandal.

O’Sullivan’s participation in the tournament was unexpected for many, considering his absence from five events in 2025 due to health concerns.

However, he appeared to regain his form, overcoming Si Jiahui, Junxu Pang, and longtime rival Ali Carter to reach the semi-finals for a remarkable 33rd consecutive year at the World Championships.

O’Sullivan himself seemed surprised, using a new cue and describing his play as “awful,” likening himself to a swan.

This mindset may have affected him during the match against Zhao, who took control in Friday’s sessions and secured victory with a session left to play.

With the score level at four frames each, O’Sullivan made a surprising choice to change the tip of his cue MID MATCH.

Upon returning, Zhao won ALL EIGHT frames, leaving the audience in astonishment 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 will face 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 related to a match-fixing scandal.

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

Zhao was found guilty of betting on match outcomes over three years and was involved in two fixed snooker matches.

While he did not fix a match personally, his early admissions and guilty plea resulted in a lighter sentence than others.

World Snooker Championship 2025

WE are BACK at the Crucible for another thrilling fortnight of snooker action!

A new champion will emerge this year after the reigning champion Kyren Wilson was ousted in the first round by a strong performance from Lei Peifan.

Ronnie O’Sullivan aims to secure a record EIGHTH World Snooker Championship title, while World No 1 Judd Trump remains the favorite for the tournament.

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