Defending title holder Zhao Xintong has been eliminated from the World Snooker Championship. The former snooker champion lost 13-10 to Shaun Murphy in the quarter-final stage at the Crucible Theatre.
The defeat ended Zhao’s attempt to defend his world title. He became the first Chinese snooker champion last year after defeating Mark Williams in the final. His early exit continues the long-standing “Crucible curse” for first-time winners.
Murphy produced a strong comeback after Zhao took an early lead. Zhao started the match with a 3-0 advantage. However, Murphy slowly recovered and controlled key frames later in the match.
The English player is now just two wins away from his second world title. He previously won the championship 21 years ago. His performance against the current snooker champion was considered highly clinical and consistent.
Zhao Xintong admitted after the match that Murphy played better. He said the pressure of being snooker champion affected his game slightly. However, he praised Murphy’s performance and accepted the result.
The match was tied at 8-8 before Murphy gained control. A break of 98 helped him take the lead. He later sealed victory with a match-winning break of 69.
Murphy also praised Zhao’s ability, calling him one of the strongest players in the game. He said facing a former snooker champion made the match challenging but motivating.
While Zhao exits the tournament, China still has representation in the semi-finals. Wu Yize advanced after defeating Hossein Vafaei 13-8. He will now face Mark Allen in the next round.
Wu Yize showed strong form and impressive potting skills. He said he felt confident after finding rhythm during the match. His performance has drawn attention as he continues his rise in the sport.
Vafaei praised Wu’s performance, comparing his play style to a video game. He said the young player was extremely accurate and difficult to control against.
Earlier, Mark Allen secured his semi-final spot after beating Barry Hawkins 13-11. A key error from Hawkins allowed Allen to take advantage and finish the match.
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With Zhao Xintong eliminated, the race for the next snooker champion continues. The tournament now moves closer to the final stages at the Crucible.
