The 2025 World Snooker Championship semi-final delivered one of the tournament’s most stunning upsets, seeing snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan exit the competition following a heavy defeat by the rising Chinese star, Zhao Xintong. Despite suffering a crushing loss, O’Sullivan displayed the mark of a true champion, offering his opponent a message of pure class and encouragement.
The match itself was a dominant display by the younger player, but the respect shown by “The Rocket” in defeat became a major talking point, highlighting his generosity toward the next generation of talent.
The clash between the seven-time World Champion, 49-year-old Ronnie O’Sullivan, and 28-year-old Zhao Xintong was anticipated to be a fierce, multi-session battle. While the first session hinted at a contest, ending level at 4-4, the match quickly turned into a masterclass from the Chinese left-hander.
The pivotal shift occurred during Friday morning’s session. Zhao Xintong was ruthless, delivering a punishing performance that saw him win all eight frames, establishing a commanding 12-4 lead heading into the third session. O’Sullivan, visibly struggling, even slammed the tip and ferrule on his cue in a rare public display of frustration during the first session.
When the players returned for the third session, Zhao Xintong needed only five more frames to secure the victory. He quickly notched the necessary frames to seal a bruising 17-7 win, dumping the snooker icon out of the tournament with a session to spare.
This victory was historic for Zhao Xintong, booking his place in the final against the winner of the Judd Trump vs. Mark Williams semi-final. He became only the second Chinese player to reach the World Championship final, following in the footsteps of his compatriot, Ding Junhui, who achieved the feat in 2016.
Despite the magnitude of the defeat—a loss that saw him comprehensively outplayed—Ronnie O’Sullivan’s focus immediately shifted from his own performance to celebrating his opponent’s achievement. This classy gesture cemented his status not just as a great player, but as a statesman of the game.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, O’Sullivan revealed the brief but heartfelt exchange he had with Zhao Xintong during their warm embrace at the end of the match:
The snooker legend said he told Xintong to enjoy his moment during their warm embrace.
O’Sullivan’s praise for the Chinese star was effusive, recognizing the significance of Xintong’s success for the sport as a whole. “He’s amazing, a great boy. It’s great for the game. Fantastic for him to reach the final,” O’Sullivan added, clearly recognizing the talent and impact Xintong brings to snooker.
O’Sullivan didn’t shy away from acknowledging his own poor form, admitting that Zhao Xintong was the deserved winner.
“Zhao played good, he deserved his victory. I think he’s done brilliantly all tournament and all credit to Zhao. He played better than me,” O’Sullivan stated plainly.
In a candid assessment of his own performance, the 49-year-old, who had reportedly sat out the past few months of competition, confessed to his struggles on the baize. “I’ve been awful for quite a while, those performances are in there, they’ve been coming out quite regularly recently,” he admitted. He expressed disappointment not only in losing but in failing to make the match a proper contest: “I just felt like I never gave him a game so that’s a bit disappointing.”
For Zhao Xintong, the victory was overwhelming. “I’m so happy. It’s my first time in the final,” he shared. However, he was quick to credit O’Sullivan, acknowledging the mentorship and support he had received from the snooker icon over the years. “I need to say a big thanks to Ronnie. He helped me so much,” Xintong said, underscoring the friendly relationship between the two competitors that transcended the semi-final rivalry.
Zhao Xintong now prepared to face either Judd Trump or Mark Williams in the final, with that other semi-final tie locked at 8-8 ahead of its resumption. But for fans, the lasting image of the 2025 semi-final will be the warm embrace at the Crucible—a moment where respect and admiration triumphed over the bitterness of defeat, proving that class is permanent, even when performance is not.