I made it to the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship and believe this player is the best potter around

Daily Record

30-04-2025

He ended Neil Robertson's Crucible dreams before they even began, and then took another major scalp in the second round.
But snooker ace Chris Wakelin, who defeated Mark Allen despite the Pistol recording a stunning 147 during their match, says that quarter-final opponent Zhao Xintong is the best potter he's played.
The controversial Chinese star is rated as an amateur in Sheffield after serving a 20 month ban for betting offences, and faced four gruelling 19 frame qualifiers just to make it to the Crucible.
However he's shown no sign of fatigue, with Wakelin full of praise for the 28-year-old.
He told the BBC: "I was disappointed to lose, it just didn't happen for me over the last couple of days unfortunately.
"What I've tried to do over the last couple of seasons is be a lot more aggressive. That had worked for me up until this point in the tournament, but I just ran out of steam unfortunately.
"It's been, by far, my best season so far. I feel like I'm still getting stronger. Up until this point I feel like I've got stronger and stronger and every event and there's a lot more to come.
"The biggest change I've made is being a lot more aggressive, and that's what I feel you have to do in the modern game to stand a chance against the other top players.
"I've just got to learn how to manage that. You've got to be aggressive, but also reign it in a little bit. And I was too aggressive against Zhao.
"I tried to take it to him, but I'm not going to out-pot the best potter on tour. So I'll need a different plan for next year."
Xintong meanwhile could face a quarter-final with his idol Ronnie O'Sullivan.
He said: "I'm very happy. In the start I wasn't playing well to be honest, but to go in leading 12-4 into the last session I was telling myself just win one more frame.
"It's big pressure, I know that, but I did it again which is good. I'm very proud of myself, because I'm really tired after playing for 22 days.
"I just want to enjoy the semi-final with the single table. It doesn't matter who I play, but it would be great for China to play Si Jiahui. But I think that Ronnie is the best."
Pundit, and former world champ, John Parrott meanwhile liked what he saw from Zhao in the clash - saying: "He's a brilliant natural talent, a wonderful long scorer and break builder. He's great to watch, easy on the eye."
Fellow world champion Ken Doherty however hopes Zhao doesn't get overawed if he comes up against the Rocket in the semi-finals.
The Darlin' of Dublin added: "Hats off to Zhao Xintong, four matches in qualifying. He's made four centuries and won five Q Tour events just to get his tour card back.
"The way he's played in this championship is incredible. The grace in which he plays the game, he walks around the table with a big smile on his face and plays beautifully. He's great to watch and great for the game.
"I think the only difficulty could be because he's so in awe of Ronnie, as is Si Jiahui and Pang Junxu that they haven't laid glove on him.
"That's the only thing that I'd fear if he did play Ronnie. But, of all the players who Ronnie has played, I think Zhao Xintong will give him a sterner test than he's already had in this championship."