O’Sullivan loses session 8-0 as Zhao dazzles at Crucible

In their World Championship semi-final, Zhao Xintong defeated Ronnie O’Sullivan 12-4 to take the lead.

Zhao won the opening session 8-0 against O’Sullivan at the Crucible on Friday morning with the overnight score of 4-4, making him the only player to do so in the process.

After Thursday’s opening session, Englishman O’Sullivan, 49, made the decision to get a new tip and make additional changes after making no secret about his struggles with his cue since snapping his old one at the Championship League in January.

He missed a number of regulation pots against a player who brutally punished him, but it didn’t have the desired impact.

Zhao, a former UK Championship champion who is currently playing for amateur purposes, had a good game and put on a performance that suggests he might be ready to win the title in Sheffield.