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O’Sullivan couldn’t get going while having problems with his cue, suffering an eight-frame whitewash in the second session, which started with the score poised at 4-4. The Rocket took a four-month break before the tournament, and since his crushing defeat, he has raised doubts over whether he wants to extend his illustrious career. However, he has shown nothing but exemplary sportsmanship towards Zhao since the final shot of their match in person and now online.
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O’Sullivan has taken to X (formerly Twitter) to post two images side-by-side with the caption: “How it started vs how it’s going.”
The first image shows him smiling for a photo with his arm around a much younger Zhao, and the second displays the pair shaking hands after the match.
Their respect for each other was clear based on how they spoke about one another after the showdown.
Victoria Snooker Academy, the Sheffield base where Zhao practices, also shared an image of the Chinese player and O’Sullivan exchanging a hug in the latter’s dressing room in the aftermath.
A caption read: “Straight after the match, Xintong went to Ronnie’s dressing room. He thanked him for his help and support, without which he wouldn’t have got to the final so quickly.”
How it started vs how it’s going pic.twitter.com/xhCc5MjIHC
A post shared by Victoria Snooker Academy (@victoriasnookeracademy)
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“I know we’ve got a really nice relationship. I’m always trying to help him if I can,” O’Sullivan explained before revealing a touch of class from Zhao.
“He wanted the crowd to give me a clap at the end, but it was Zhao’s moment. I tried to get off as quickly as I could because it was his moment to enjoy.”
Zhao is just the second Asian player to reach a World Snooker Championship final, nine years after Ding Junhui fell short against Mark Selby in 2016.
The 28-year-old is vying to become the first Asian champion, and O’Sullivan is rooting for him to go all the way.
He said: “I think it would be amazing [if Zhao wins the tournament]. If he did, he’d be a megastar. He’s very big in China as it is.
“But if he becomes the world champion, it would be unbelievable. It would just be amazing for snooker and for his life as well.
“He can definitely get over the line, but I think he’ll have more of a test against the other two guys in the semis. I think that’ll be a proper test for him.”
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