Ronnie O'Sullivan v Xintong Zhao LIVE: World Snooker Championship semi-final scores and updates
Ronnie O'Sullivan begins his World Snooker Championship semi-final against Xintong Zhao with 'The Rocket' continuing his bid for a history-making eighth world title.
O'Sullivan had too much for Si Jiahui in the quarter-finals, though he admitted he got 'lucky' and maintains he is playing below his best during this current run in Sheffield.
'I'm playing awful and the cue feels awful,' O'Sullivan told BBC Sport. 'It's the worst situation to be in as a snooker player. I'm still in so I'll keep punching away, keep trying. He played poor in the whole match really, let me off the hook loads of times, so I got lucky again.'
In the other semi-final, Judd Trump continued his ominous form by dispatching Luca Brecel while adding a record 104th century of a memorable season. And 'The Ace in the Pack' will take on O'Sullivan's fellow 'Class of 92' rival Mark Williams, who prevailed on the final black in an unforgettable match with fellow veteran John Higgins.
Ronnie O'Sullivan on the impact of psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters
'Steve's been amazing,' O'Sullivan admits. 'I wouldn't have got through the first round without Steve so Steve's been incredible,' he said. 'It's been a tough job for him this week. I've tried to give it my best and I have and just hanging in there.
'If I could afford him I'd have him every day but obviously he's a busy man and I couldn't afford to have him full time, so I try to time when I can have him. Obviously Sheffield is a big tournament so it's nice to have him around when this event's on.'
Jack Rathborn1 May 2025 09:51
World Snooker Championship 2025: Results, draw and semi-final schedule in full
(All times BST)
Thursday 1 May
Semi-finals
13:00
Zhao Xintong v Ronnie O'Sullivan
19:00
Mark Williams v Judd Trump
Friday 2 May
Semi-finals
10:00
Zhao Xintong v Ronnie O'Sullivan
14:30
Mark Williams v Judd Trump
19:00
Zhao Xintong v Ronnie O'Sullivan
Jack Rathborn1 May 2025 09:32
Ronnie O'Sullivan bemoans cue problems and claims he got 'lucky' in quarter-finals
'Not really no, I'm just grinding it out. I had some work done on my cue today, probably have to get a new ferrule, a new tip, it just feels awful, the cue,' O'Sullivan told the BBC.
'I'm playing awful and the cue feels awful. It's the worst situation to be in as a snooker player. I'm still in so I'll keep punching away, keep trying.
'He had lots of chances. I was trying all sorts, trying to hold the cue in a different place to get a bit of feel, I'll just try anything.
'He played poor in the whole match really, let me off the hook loads of times, so I got lucky again.'
Jack Rathborn1 May 2025 09:31
Judd Trump on facing 'legend' Mark Williams in semi-finals
"I played really well tonight, I managed to give myself a boost this afternoon by staying level and that was the difference in the end,' Trump tells the BBC.
"I have played solid, I was always confident. I had the belief that I would grind him down and it's very nice to come out tonight and play well.
"I played Mark Williams the last time I was in the semi-finals and it was an epic, he is a legend of the game."
Jack Rathborn1 May 2025 09:30
World Snooker Championship 2025
Good morning and welcome to the Independent's coverage of the World Snooker Championship 2025. Today the semi-finals kick off at the Crucible!
And there are four fabulous players remaining as Ronnie O'Sullivan takes on Zhao Xintong and Judd Trump battles Mark Williams.
'The Rocket' is playing down his chances and has grumbled about his cue, while Trump continues to knock in centuries, logging his 104th in the quarter-finals against Luca Brecel, in what has become a record-breaking season.
Standing in his way is 'Class of '92' star Mark Williams, who emerged from a dramatic match with John Higgins after knocking in the final black. Follow for all the latest updates.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Andy Murray gives update on his coaching future after splitting with Novak Djokovic earlier this year
Andy Murray has revealed he is open to a coaching return but admits he still has more learning to do first. The legendary British tennis star, who retired in 2024, worked with Novak Djokovic between last November and this May in a coaching consultancy role. The 38-year-old, who now has the Andy Murray Arena named after him at Queen's, was asked about whether he would return to coaching in the future in some capacity. He told BBC Sport's Clare Balding: 'I would do it again at some stage. I don't think that will happen immediately. 'I wasn't planning on going into coaching as soon as I finished playing but it was a pretty unique opportunity. It was a chance to learn from one of the best athletes of all time. 'You also learn a lot about how to work with a team. As an individual athlete, you have a team of people around you, but you're the focal point whereas when you're coaching an individual, you're working with a physio, physical trainers, agents, and you need to know how to get your message across to the player and find out what makes them tick. 'That was the thing I learned and something I need to work on if I want to do it again in the future. 'It was a brilliant opportunity for me. We got to spend some really nice moments away from the court. Results weren't as we wanted but we gave it a go. 'We'll see about coaching in the future but I don't think that will happen for a while.' After Murray's split with Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion reflected: 'We felt like we couldn't get more out of that partnership on the court, and that's all there is to it. 'My respect towards Andy remains the same, even more actually, I got to know him as a person. 'I think he has a brilliant tennis IQ, he has a very rare mind of a champion that obviously has achieved what he has achieved, and he sees the game incredibly well.' Murray had earlier revealed that his tennis game itself is now 'diabolical' almost a year on from his retirement. At the opening of his new arena on Monday: 'I've obviously missed being out here, having not been involved in a grass court season for a while,' Murray said in front to the delighted audience after he took to the court through a ballgirl guard of honour. He ended the event with a hit-up with tournament director and former British No1 Laura Robson, and two juniors from Greenhouse Sports and The Queen's Club Foundation. But, Murray warned the crowd, his tennis is 'diabolical nowadays' - although the former British No 1 was able to hold his own nicely in the brief rally.
Metro
4 hours ago
- Metro
Zak Surety on wild Crucible debut: They can't ever move from there - it's mad
Zak Surety had a very eventful debut at the World Snooker Championship this year and although he both loved and hated the experience, he was convinced that the 'mad' Crucible is the perfect home for the event. The 33-year-old enjoyed his best ever season by a long stretch, reaching a first semi-final at the World Open and finishing the campaign with a Crucible debut after brilliant performances in qualifying. At the iconic Sheffield theatre he faced Chinese superstar Ding Junhui and the pair produced an amazing opening round contest. Ding went 4-0 up as Surety struggled with the occasion and things looked very sticky for the Englishman at the first interval. 'At the start I walked out and sat in my seat and that was the strangest I've ever felt,' Surety told Metro. 'I've never felt that uncomfortable. My arms didn't feel part of my body. It felt like my tip didn't belong to me. Everything felt wrong. 'I've got myself in a bit of a state and I'm 4-0 down. I'm in the dressing room thinking I really don't want to go out there. It's your dream, but I just didn't want to go back out there because I was making myself look like an absolute idiot.' Surety has spoken openly about his struggles with anxiety before, so it is to his immense credit that he overcame those feelings in some style, starting with only losing that first session 6-3. 'I made a century the last frame of the first session,' he remembers. 'When the screen came up it was probably the best buzz I've ever had because it was the whole Crucible to myself. The noise in there! I was welling up as I got to 90 and thought, is this really me? 'Obviously then the second day I flew.' He certainly did, becoming the first player in Crucible history to make four centuries on debut and although he ultimately lost 10-7, he did anything but make himself look like an absolute idiot. 'I actually watched the second session back last week and I don't feel like it's me,' he said. 'It's just some random bald bloke on the tele. I'm watching it back and thinking, did that really happen? 'I felt weird after because I left, I've set a record, I've played well, I can go home and the pressure of it is all over. They're all talking about me on the tele, great position going into next season, everything's good. 'Then you're home and you think about it and that was such a good chance. I was playing so well, I could have done something there and it quickly goes from feeling quite content about the whole experience to being quite annoyed.' Mixed feelings sums up the Crucible experience as Surety's first game there epitomised the cliché that the venue is both the best and worst place to play snooker. 'I sat down and tried to convince myself it was going to be the best place on Earth, but you get it drummed into your head how you're meant to feel in there,' he said. 'Mark Allen asked me how I was feeling and told me that he was there for the 19th time and still struggles every time he walks out there. It's like it's normal. 'I watched the opening morning before travelling up and Steve Davis said on camera: 'I can't wait to watch the top players in the world squirm under the pressure of the Crucible.' I looked at my girlfriend and said: 'Bloody hell, that's me this year!'' 'Although I hated those first four frames, that's how I'm meant to feel. You sit there, look left and that's where Steve Davis picked up all them trophies. I was looking up at the lights on the roof and tearing up. How the hell am I here? You find yourself losing yourself in the history of the place. 'At the start it felt like the walls sucked in on me and you just notice every set of eyes in the whole arena. I thought they were on me, which they were, but you notice it. The next day I was flying and it was like no one else was in there.' Surety was a huge fan of the place before playing there, but is now convinced that the unique nature of the Crucible is why it should remain the home of the World Championship, beyond the current contract which ends in 2027. 'They can't ever move from there,' he said. 'It's just…it's mad. 'It's so small in there, I think you're only allowed two back stage passes, but it works because you walk into the Champions Lounge upstairs and there's Stephen Hendry. As I walked in he said: 'Great run in the World Open, well done for qualifying, I'm glad to see you doing well.' I'd never spoken to Stephen Hendry before! Things like that make it mad.' The challenge for Surety now is to build on the very encouraging end to last season and make it back to the Crucible next year, something he is working hard on. 'I lost to Ding on the Tuesday and I was back here in the club on the Wednesday,' he said. 'I quite like that time of year because you're not practising for anything, just playing and having a laugh.' More Trending The popular Essex star also had a summer of cue questions which has seen him chop, change and return to old faithful which arrived from eBay a decade ago. 'My cue's not the greatest. I love it, but it's an old Chinese cue that my dad picked up off eBay about 10 years ago for 130 quid,' he explained. 'There are a lot better cues, but it's obviously my own. 'John Parris has made me a new one and I used it for three or four days. I like using other cues as a bit of a challenge. I think I've made a century with near enough every bit of wood in the club. But when it's handed to you and this could be something you're going into the season with, I couldn't do it. 'I had to call John and say you can have your you're very expensive, beautiful cue back. I want me little piece of poo off eBay back and I I'm cracking on.' MORE: Wuhan Open and British Open draws made as Ronnie O'Sullivan enters both MORE: Stephen Hendry and Ken Doherty disagree on most underrated snooker player ever MORE: Anthony Hamilton reflects on epic career as Sheriff of Pottingham hands in his badge
The Herald Scotland
5 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Sir Andy Murray not ruling out return to coaching despite Novak Djokovic split
Murray, who retired from playing after the 2024 Olympics, linked up with Djokovic in November and despite the pair terminating their relationship in May, the 38-year-old says he may accept a similar role in the future. Andy Murray relished his return to Queen's Club on Monday (John Walton/PA) Murray told BBC Sport: 'I would do it again at some stage. I don't think that will happen immediately. 'I wasn't planning on going into coaching as soon as I finished playing but it was a pretty unique opportunity. It was a chance to learn from one of the best athletes of all time. 'It was a brilliant opportunity for me. We got to spend some really nice moments away from the court. Results weren't as we wanted but we gave it a go.' He's here and he's perfect 🤗@andy_murray unveils the Andy Murray Arena at The Queen's Club #HSBCChampionships — HSBC Championships (@QueensTennis) June 9, 2025 Murray, a three-time grand slam winner and five-time winner of the men's title at Queen's, joked his tennis was now 'diabolical' before rallying with a 10-year-old doubles partner on the court. 'My tennis is diabolical, apologies for what you are about to witness,' he said before pairing up with Gloria, 10, for the ceremonial two-round rally against Laura Robson, who won an Olympic silver medal alongside Murray in 2012, and Jay, 7. 'I've obviously missed being out here,' he added. 'It's the first time, obviously, not being involved in a grass court season for a while, but I've got a new life now and I'm enjoying being away from the sport a little bit.' Centre court at the Queen's Club was renamed in Murray's honour (John Walton/PA) The Scotsman also revealed he has a special connection to this event – he was coached as a 12 and 13-year-old by Russian Olga Morozova, the last women's singles winner here in 1973. 'I think it's brilliant,' said Murray, when asked about the return of women's tennis to Queen's. 'This court has had many great matches on it. I think it's a great chance for women to showcase themselves out there.' The former world number one first competed in the main draw at Queen's as an 18-year-old and for the last time last season before retiring in Paris. He also claimed the doubles trophy in 2019 alongside Feliciano Lopez. Murray added: 'This tournament has so many special moments for me. It's the place where I won my first match on the ATP Tour, it's my most successful event. 'Coming back here at the start of the British summer and I'm very proud of the results I have here. 'I'm very grateful and thankful for whoever it was who decided to name the stadium this way. I hope there's lots of great matches and you all enjoy the tennis.'
