World Snooker Championship 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Ronnie O'Sullivan TRASHED by Zhao in semis, Judd Trump LEVEL
The Rocket's evening session has started with him trailing 12-4 after 16 frames following a nightmare morning session.
O'Sullivan took the first two frames of the second period of action but was immediately pegged back to his seat as his 28-year-old opponent showed off pot clinicality to restore his lead before the mid-session interval.
The sport's greatest player would pull one more frame back but the contest was done and dusted as Zhao cleared the table in the final frame expertly to book his place in the final with a 17-7 win.
While in the other semi-final, Judd Trump and Mark Williams are level on 8-8 after a thrilling afternoon.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
10 hours ago
- Wales Online
Ronnie O'Sullivan's actions in TV studio were something pundit had 'never seen before'
Ronnie O'Sullivan's actions in TV studio were something pundit had 'never seen before' Ronnie O'Sullivan is no stranger to turning heads - and his former rival Ken Doherty says he was shocked at the Rocket's behaviour after his semi-final clash at the Saudi Arabia Masters Ronnie O'Sullivan raised eyebrows and turned heads at the Saudi Arabia Masters (Image: Getty Images) Snooker legend Ken Doherty admitted he was gobsmacked after witnessing Ronnie O'Sullivan's uncharacteristically joyous reaction in the TV studio following his unprecedented double 147 display. It was behaviour the Irishman says he's "never" seen from the Rocket before. On Friday, O'Sullivan, 49, once again etched his name into snooker folklore, becoming the first competitor ever to make two maximum breaks in the same match, achieved in his Saudi Masters semi-final against Chris Wakelin. The first of the two came right in the opener of the best-of-11 - and to underline his dominance, he added breaks of 134 and 142, dazzling fans with his consistency and flair. But it was his rare exuberance off the table that caught Doherty's eye. "I don't think he has ever been like that after a match," he said to the Express, via Betway. "When he came into the studio, we were having a good laugh with him, Ronnie was happy, was laughing his head off and normally he downplays everything, but he seemed really in a good place which was great to see." The Irishman was quick to praise the magnitude of the double 147 achievement itself. "They were just incredible," he said. "Just to witness that live and for it to be on TV was just unbelievable, it was unprecedented. It was historic and was absolutely amazing. But it is what Ronnie O'Sullivan does and it was an incredible best of 11 [frames], two 147 breaks, a 134 and a 142." Equally striking to Doherty was Ronnie's delight with his new piece of kit. "He was really happy with his new cue as well. I think the guy who made the cue for him, Sunny Akani, is going to be very busy over the next few months making cues for all different people. It was great to see him in good form, good spirits and playing so well." Article continues below Doherty says O'Sullivan was unprecedentedly jubilant after the semi-final (Image: Getty) Despite O'Sullivan occasionally flirting with retirement, Doherty feels there's plenty left in the tank. Recalling Ronnie's dramatic Saudi final against Neil Robertson, where he battled back from 7-2 down only to lose 10-9, he said: "The way he played and the level of which he played in, even in the final to come back from 7-2 down against Neil Robertson to go 9-8 up, I thought he was unlucky and Neil Robertson did really well to win 10-9. "But I thought Ronnie was unlucky with the couple of splits that he had and he could have won the game 10-8 or 10-9 because he was in the last frame as well. But Ronnie can go on for another few years and could even continue until he is 60 if he wants to." As someone who repeatedly locked cues with the Rocket during the '90s and early 2000s, Doherty believes an eighth world title remains O'Sullivan's great motivation. "I think Ronnie wants to win that elusive eighth world title and it will be high on his priority," he explained. Ken Doherty was knocked out in Round 2 of the Saudi Arabia Masters (Image: Getty) "He likes to play in the big tournaments. The Saudi event you could see how much it means to him; he was banging the table with frustration when things weren't going well which is a good sign that he really wants to win it. "He loves the big tournaments like the Saudi one, the Masters, the UK and the World Championship, which is his main priority. Ronnie loves winning and is a winner, he's always won and wants to keep winning and stay at the top for as long as he can." From his own experience of trying to stop O'Sullivan, Doherty emphasised the challenge of blocking out the Rocket's aura. "When you played Ronnie, you used to try not to think about who you were playing," he said. O'Sullivan and Doherty have enjoyed a healthy rivalry for years (Image: Getty) Article continues below "Play your own game and it was like trying to hold onto a racehorse but it was very difficult at times but you have to play your own game and concentrate about that because if you think about Ronnie's game all of the time, well then you are on the backfoot but if you can be confident in your own game. "I think that's what was so great about Neil Robertson, he focused on his own game and didn't worry about who was in the other chair or with it being Ronnie. It was an honour for him to play Ronnie, but it also inspired him and that's the attitude you need when you play against these great players." With O'Sullivan seemingly embracing the sport with fresh enthusiasm, Doherty believes snooker fans will be seeing plenty of Rocket magic for years to come. His verdict was clear: when Ronnie's in this frame of mind, absolutely anything is possible.
Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Ronnie O'Sullivan pulls out of tournament on medical grounds amid British Open fears
Ronnie O'Sullivan was in fine form at the recent Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters but has made a late withdrawal from a tournament just a month before the British Open Ronnie O'Sullivan's involvement in the upcoming British Open has been put in doubt after the veteran withdrew from the Wuhan Open. O'Sullivan, 49, is set to miss the Chinese tournament on medical grounds. " Ronnie O'Sullivan has pulled out of next week's Wuhan Open in China for medical reasons," a World Snooker Tour statement read. "O'Sullivan was due to meet Allan Taylor in the opening round on Sunday August 24. He will be replaced in the draw with the leading player from the Q School rankings, Germany's Umut Dikme." The Wuhan Open runs from August 24-30, with the English Open getting up and running on September 11. The British Open follows not long after that, with the Cheltenham event starting on September 22. The specific reason for O'Sullivan's absence in China has not been unveiled, so it is unclear whether he will be able to return to action next month. It's not the first time O'Sullivan has pulled out of an event for medical reasons, either. An unspecified issue forced him to withdraw from last autumn's Northern Ireland Open at the eleventh hour, and also made a late decision to sit out the Welsh Open in February. The Rocket spoke publicly after the latter decision, sympathising with fans who had travelled to watch him play. "I realise plenty of people who bought tickets to some recent snooker events will have been frustrated when I withdrew, so I just wanted to say sorry to those of you who've been disappointed with me having to pull out of those tournaments," he said. "I've been trying to prioritise my health and well-being, which sometimes means making last-minute decisions not to play. "It's never an easy decision and I hate letting people down. I'm doing what I can to get back to my best, and I'm grateful for all your support and understanding." O'Sullivan's latest withdrawal comes hot on the heels of an impressive display at the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters in Jeddah. He hit two maximum breaks in a semi-final victory over Chris Wakelin, netting a six-figure prize in the process, but lost 10-9 to Neil Robertson in a thrilling final. "Neil deserved to win, he was the better player," O'Sullivan said after the defeat. "I just tried to hang on to him and make a game of it. I was pleased to do that, he was outplaying me at 7-2. When I came here I would have been happy just to win a couple of matches. I was pleased with my performances." Robertson, a former world champion, was thrilled to claim victory after a tough spell. "It feels great to be back in this position," he said. "Coming here last year I was 28th in the world. Hopefully my story will inspire younger generations because you should never give up, you will get ups and downs but it's not about how far you fall, it's about how far you bounce." Legends of the Ryder Cup special edition Legends everywhere you look - and we celebrate them in this special edition as Europe and the USA prepare to do battle again in New York. The great Tom Watson once said: 'The Ryder Cup creates idols. It creates legends. It creates memories that last.' He was spot on.
Metro
12 hours ago
- Metro
O'Sullivan pulls out of next event on medical grounds after Saudi final run
Ronnie O'Sullivan has withdrawn from the upcoming Wuhan Open due to medical reasons and has been replaced in the draw. The Rocket reached the final of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters last week, where he was narrowly beaten 10-9 by Neil Robertson in an epic contest on Saturday night. The 49-year-old produced some immaculate snooker in Jeddah, knocking in two 147s in his 6-3 semi-final win over Chris Wakelin. He was due to play Allan Taylor in Wuhan on Sunday, but will not compete in the ranking event, with World Snooker Tour announcing that his withdrawal is due to medical reasons. As it is an opening round match, O'Sullivan will be replaced by the leading player on the Q School rankings, Umut Dikme, who will face Taylor. This is just the third edition of the Wuhan Open, with O'Sullivan reaching the quarter-finals of the first in 2023 and withdrawing from last year's event, again for medical reasons. The Rocket is next scheduled to compete in the British Open on Monday September 22 against Sanderson Lam. The run to the final in Saudi Arabia last week saw the Rocket climb back up to number four in the world rankings thanks to the £200,000 runner-up prize. More Trending He had started the season projected to be outside of the world's top 16 ahead of the World Championship, which would have seen him face qualifying for the Crucible, but those fears have been eased. The huge financial win in Jeddah now sees O'Sullivan at number seven on the 'Race to the Crucible' standings. More to follow… MORE: Stephen Hendry makes Ronnie O'Sullivan prediction after Saudi Arabia fireworks MORE: Why players love the controversial Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters…other than the money MORE: Conjuror Ronnie O'Sullivan remains snooker's unmissable showman whether winning or not
