Ronnie O’Sullivan and Zhao Xintong finished the opening session of their World Snooker Championship semi-final tied at 4-4, Xintong 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.
Errors cost him again in the early stages of this semi-final as he fell 2-0 down to an assured Zhao, but momentum swung back and forth. The veteran moved 4-3 up and had chances to take a 5-3 lead into the next session - before the Chinese player responded with the best break of the match so far, 86, to level proceedings.
In the other semi-final, Judd Trump leads Mark Williams 5-3 overnight after coming out on top of a scrappy evening session.
World Snooker Championship 2025
- Ronnie O'Sullivan meets Zhao Xintong in semi-finals after dispatching Si Jiahui
- Judd Trump meets Mark Williams in other semi-final at Crucible
- Afternoon session ends 4-4 after Zhao keeps pace with O'Sullivan
- Trump leads Williams 5-3 after scrappy opening session of other semi-final
Judd Trump 5-3 Mark Williams
22:36 , Lawrence OstlereTrump wraps up with a virtuoso century, screwing the cue ball all around the angles in a playful finish that ends on the blue. They shake hands and that is that for the day – Trump will lead by two when they resume tomorrow.
Trump wins frame eight.
Judd Trump 4-3 Mark Williams
22:28 , Lawrence OstlereWow – Williams pots a stunning long red, which was straight and true, before missing a pretty routine black. He swings his cue in frustration.
Trump is now in amongst the balls with a great chance to score heavily.
Judd Trump 4-3 Mark Williams
22:22 , Lawrence OstlereAn extraoardinary moment as Trump twice misses a red attempting to escape a snooker, only the pot the red on his third attempt! A huge slice of luck. He gets over the line in another tense frame and leads once more.
Trump wins frame seven.
Judd Trump 3-3 Mark Williams
21:53 , Lawrence OstlereWilliams gets away with that missed red, coming through another scrappy frame peppered with errors.
Williams wins frame six.
Judd Trump 3-2 Mark Williams
21:48 , Lawrence OstlereOof, a sloppy missed red by Williams, trying to move the cue ball and forgetting to pot the thing. That’s a shocker.
They both have 30-ish points on the board and Trump is now looking to pull off a tricky clearance with the final three reds clustered near the top cushion.
Judd Trump 3-2 Mark Williams
21:40 , Lawrence OstlereTrump has 20 points on the board to Williams’ one, but they are locked in a tense safety exchange in yet another fractured frame.
Judd Trump 3-2 Mark Williams
21:30 , Lawrence OstlereTrump wins a safety battle and clears up to clinch the frame.
Trump wins frame five.
Judd Trump 2-2 Mark Williams
21:25 , Lawrence OstlereA lovely break of 72 should be enough for Trump to restore his lead. Williams comes back to the table requiring snookers and begins building a break of his own.
Judd Trump 2-2 Mark Williams
21:18 , Lawrence OstlereThey are back out there after a brief break, and Trump is immediately in amongst the balls looking to score heavily.
Judd Trump 2-2 Mark Williams
21:03 , Lawrence OstlereThe first show of brilliance in this match comes from Mark Williams, firing a wonderful long red before compiling a smooth 116 break to level up at the mid-session interval.
Williams wins frame four.
Judd Trump 2-1 Mark Williams
20:51Williams misses an attempted double to allow Trump to the table, and the world No 1 clears all the colours bar the black, which he attempts wrong-handed. Another ugly frame but Trump won’t mind.
Trump wins frame three.
Judd Trump 1-1 Mark Williams
20:28 , Lawrence OstlereA gruelling 40-minute frame eventually goes the way of Trump after Williams fails to capitalise on a late chance, missing a relatively routine red. That was a grind, but Trump is level.
Trump wins frame two.
Judd Trump 0-1 Mark Williams
20:05 , Lawrence OstlereThe messiness of this second frame continues as Williams misses a pot and goes in off, too. Trump is in the ascendancy.
Judd Trump 0-1 Mark Williams
19:58 , Lawrence OstlereTrump has the upper hand in what has been a scrappy second frame, although he’s just given up eight points with two misses attempting to clip the same red and not making any contact.
Trump’s 43-9 ahead but Williams is at the table eyeing a pottable long red.
Judd Trump 0-1 Mark Williams
19:44 , Lawrence OstlereWilliams gets over the line despite Trump’s brief fightback, and the Welshman has the first frame on the scoreboard.
Judd Trump v Mark Williams
19:34 , Lawrence OstlereThis semi-final is under way, and Mark Williams has made a strong start with 70 points on the board in the first frame. But Judd Trump is at the table and still in with a shot here...
Zhao makes highest break of session against O'Sullivan
18:40 , Jack RathbornZhao with the highest break of the match so far at 86 in that sixth and final frame of the session.
Neither man has made a century so far though, with O'Sullivan making four breaks of 50+ compared to his Chinese rival's three.
So far today: O'Sullivan locked at 4-4 with Zhao
18:18 , Lawrence OstlereO'Sullivan's roll continued after the restart as he got the better of a safety exchange then sealed the fifth, leaving Zhao over half-an-hour and two frames without scoring a point. When he snapped his barren streak he did enough to draw level once again.
Both players saved their best for last as they warmed to an engaging battle, O'Sullivan regaining the upper hand with a break of 82 before Zhao shot back with 86.
So far today: O'Sullivan locked at 4-4 with Zhao
17:59 , Lawrence OstlereEarlier O'Sullivan, who considered his previous 13-9 win over Si Jiahui a let-off, won three frames in a row and at one stage stopped his opponent registering a point for almost 34 minutes.
Zhao showed no sign of nerves on his first appearance at the theatre's one-table set-up, settling quickly into his work as he picked up the first two frames with minimal fuss.
O'Sullivan potted the white off the initial break and was restricted to just a couple of reds as the Chinese player put together a decisive 60 to take first blood.
It was a similar story next up, with O'Sullivan opening the door with a missed black and Zhao cashing in with a 62 break.
O'Sullivan came to life at 2-0, producing his best shot yet when he brilliantly hid the blue and getting into the zone with a breezy 64.
By the time the mid-session interval arrived he had wrestled back the momentum, conjuring a fluid 73 to even the scores before jamming a black in the jaws with a century for the taking.
So far today: O'Sullivan locked at 4-4 with Zhao
17:38 , Lawrence OstlereSeven-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan and first-time semi-finalist Zhao Xintong shared the spoils in a gripping opening session at the Crucible, tying 4-4 as they fought for a spot in the World Snooker Championship final.
O'Sullivan's pedigree and experience on the big stage did not deter Zhao, who took a 2-0 lead and then finished impressively with a break of 86 - the highest of the match to date - to leave things all square after the initial leg of their best-of-33 contest.
With moments to go in the afternoon's play, Zhao broke a corner runner with a powerful shot to leave balls rolling around the carpet as he applied the finishing touches.
News: Hearn hopeful on Crucible deal
17:12 , Lawrence Ostlere"I've had a very productive meeting with Sheffield City Council. We all know where our heart is, unfortunately it's got to marry up with our wallets because that's what professional sport is about," Hearn told BBC Two.
"I'm impressed with their attitude. There's still some way to go, we've set ourselves a target of getting together again in three months to see where we're going towards. I've been honest with them in saying what we need. It all comes down to money, of course.
"They're going to need some help and, on an even bigger scale, hopefully the government identifies this as an event that is very good for Britain. Sometimes it hasn't had the respect of that because we've always been here.
"I don't want to leave but if the money's right then I have to. Because I'm going to be under pressure from players who say everyone else's prize money is going up - darts players, boxers, whatever - and not us.
"How do we inspire the next generation of people, other than saying like Luke Littler in darts, you can change your life through playing this sport?"
News: Hearn hopeful on Crucible deal
16:40 , Lawrence OstlereBarry Hearn remains hopeful a deal can be struck to keep the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible but reiterated that "it all comes down to money".
The Matchroom Sport president was positive about his latest round of talks with Sheffield City Council, whose staging agreement runs out after the 50th anniversary edition in 2027, but is unyielding when it comes to the bottom line.
With persistent whispers about more lucrative offers from the likes of Saudi Arabia, or even rebranding the prestige event as a roving showpiece, he renewed familiar calls to find more cash for the players.
Negotiations are set to continue in the summer, with a decision likely to come at the end of the year.
Coming up next...
16:15 , Flo CliffordThat’s it from O’Sullivan and Zhao tonight, with their semi-final set to resume tomorrow morning.
But from 19:00 BST tonight the other semi-finalists are in action, as world No. 1 Judd Trump takes on three-time champion Mark Williams.
'Other avenues' to solve money conundrum - Shaun Murphy
16:00 , Flo Clifford“Barry's making the link between finance and payments and size of audiences - that's not the only income stream for World Snooker Ltd or Matchroom Sport, they make a lot of money in a lot of other areas,” Murphy continues.
“He's making a very strong link between the financial rewards of professional sport and ticket sales. There are other avenues.”
Former world champion Shaun Murphy: 'I got the bug'
15:50 , Flo CliffordShaun Murphy, world champion in 2005, raises a different point on the Crucible debate.
“As a nine-year-old boy I came here in 1992 and it bit me, I got the bug and it was in this room,” he says on BBC Two.
“While we sell out the Crucible for three sessions a day for 17 days, could they sell out a 4,000 or 5,000-seater arena for three sessions a day for 17 days? There's a bit of a question mark over that.”
Barry Hearn weighs in on Crucible debate
15:40 , Flo CliffordMore from Hearn...
“I agree with [fans opposed to moving away from the Crucible], I don't want it to move,” he says. “But I have to live in the real world. While every player says there's nothing like walking out at the Crucible, every player would jump at the chance to earn double or treble the prize money. That's the world we're in.
“I'm a fan as much as anybody else, but I'm a realist. I built a big business on making sure that we deliver to players first and the public second. Whether it stays in Sheffield or somewhere else in the UK, or whether it moves to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Beijing - it's going to be a tough one.
“We have got to try to find some middle ground. We're not going to be difficult, our heart says we want to stay here because we're fans as well. Players need to be paid - that's what it comes down to.”
Barry Hearn weighs in on Crucible debate
15:33 , Flo CliffordThe Matchroom Sport president, speaking to BBC Two, continues, “It's a good time to talk because I've had a very productive meeting with Sheffield City Council.
“We all know where our heart is, unfortunately it's got to marry up with our wallets because that's what professional sport is about.
“We've got the history, my life changed at the Crucible and I don't want to leave, but if the money's right then I have to. Because I'm going to be under pressure from players who say everyone else's prize money is going up - darts players, boxers, whatever - and not us.
“And how do we inspire the next generation of people, other than saying like Luke Littler in darts, you can change your life through playing this sport.
“I've got to give that and that's going to involve negotiations on both sides.”
Barry Hearn weighs in on Crucible debate
15:28 , Flo Clifford“Still a long way to go, we must have a decision by the end of the year,” he continues.
“We need to inspire future generations. It's an amazing sport, but sometimes you take it for granted. We love Sheffield properly.
“Get a deal done by the end of the year.”
Barry Hearn weighs in on Crucible debate
15:22 , Flo CliffordBarry Hearn has weighed in on the debate over whether the World Championship should move on from its hallowed home at the Crucible.
“I want to accommodate more people, get more money, I need to get the prize money much bigger, you've seen what we've done in darts, we want to do the same in snooker,” he says.
“It's very nice in there, I owe it, big time, but there's a price to pay in this modern world. The council, to be fair, I was impressed by their passion.”
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-4 Zhao Xintong
15:18 , Flo CliffordZhao potted one ball with such power in that frame that he managed to break the table, with a section holding the balls after they’re potted giving way. He looks a bit sheepish at that.
Good thing it’s the end of the session...
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-4 Zhao Xintong
15:12 , Flo CliffordRonnie aims to pick up where he left off in this frame with a break of 32, but misses the black to right pocket and lets Zhao back into this.
Momentum shifts again and Zhao is cool as you like, working his way through the back and rifling the green into its pocket, splitting the reds nicely, and he’s right back in this frame and this match.
A break of 86, the best of the match, and that’ll do nicely as he moves level with O’Sullivan once more to close this afternoon session at 4–4. What a semi-final!
Ronnie O'Sullivan 3-3 Zhao Xintong
14:52 , Jack RathbornO’Sullivan down quickly and building a nice break, with the black in service.
A few reds out of action on the right cushion, but he’s already 65-1 up...
Zhao pots magic long red to pull level against O'Sullivan
14:46 , Jack RathbornZhao is 50 ahead with 51 remaining, it’s a tough, long red... It's rifled in! Zhao punishes O’Sullivan and is on the brink of levelling this match.
3-3. What a session!
O'Sullivan makes shock miss to gift Zhao chance
14:43 , Jack RathbornThat’s a big miss by Ronnie in the sixth frame, he’d played the white beautifully too, the red would have been perfect.
Zhao races off his chair and quickly extends his lead in the frame, 7-46. The balls are laid out very nicely.
The tournament average shot times: O’Sullivan 16 seconds... Zhao with 20 seconds.
The Rocket moves ahead! O'Sullivan rattles off three straight frames against Zhao
14:40 , Jack RathbornThat is classic O’Sullivan, mentally so strong in there without his best stuff, then he flicks the switch.
A patient break of 60... 71-0 in the end and conceded by Zhao. 3-2 to the Englishman.
Ronnie O'Sullivan breaks clear of Zhao Xintong
14:35 , Jack RathbornThis is a big move, some tricky shots, but high up on the table, one leg down, that’s a delicate red with a high action.
Classic Ronnie! Masterful break building with the black out of action! Now up 59-0... Just a couple more reds to take the lead in this match.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 2-2 Zhao Xintong
14:29 , Jack RathbornIt’s tense out there!
O’Sullivan with an error and leaves Zhao at the table, down just 11-0.
A long red to nothing isn’t especially close, but the white rounds out behind the yellow down at the baulk.
Aggressive from ‘The Rocket’, the red to the middle won’t go, but the white settles by the baulk cusion, the green displaced too and partially blocking that right corner now.
Stephen Hendry warns Zhao Xintong over unforced errors against Ronnie O'Sullivan
14:17 , Jack RathbornStephen Hendry also adamant Zhao must avoid those unforced errors, “you've got to make hay while the sun shines,” he says.
Can the Chinese player fend off this swing in momentum for ‘The Rocket’?
Ronnie O'Sullivan using 'guesswork' with new tip in semi-final
14:13 , Jack Rathborn“If it is a new tip, almost every shot he's playing out there is guesswork,” Shaun Murphy tells the BBC on O’Sullivan’s new tip.
O’Sullivan is level, but he doesn’t look comfortable.
Can he figure this out on the fly?
Ronnie O'Sullivan 2-2 Zhao Xintong
14:03 , Jack RathbornNow then, O’Sullivan motors to a break of 73... A sloppy miss means no century, but a puff of the cheeks and Zhao’s lead has been erased.
Ominous from ‘The Rocket’.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 1-2 Zhao Xintong
13:54 , Jack RathbornMuch better from Ronnie after Zhao fouls after a delicate safety battle.
Ronnie moving nicely now and in a flash moves to 68 in less than four minutes...
Still shaking his head, but O’Sullivan has settled and will halve the deficit shortly. A break of 64, that’ll do nicely, game on!
Ronnie O'Sullivan 0-2 Zhao Xintong
13:43 , Jack RathbornOooh, that’s a telling miss from Ronnie! A problem throughout the tournament, that blue drifts away after a nice long red. O’Sullivan back to his chair and Zhao with a chance to mop up for a three-frame lead?
After a tidy break, Zhao plays a majestic safety to tuck in behind the blue at the baulk end, he makes Ronnie work to escape and now we enter a gripping safety battle at 1-32.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 0-2 Zhao Xintong
13:39 , Flo CliffordZhao secures the frame 62-13 with a lovely long-range red at a tight angle, that just about drifts wide of the yellow on its spot, into the pocket. He misses the black on the next, but O’Sullivan concedes the frame.
Who predicted this for a start?
Ronnie O'Sullivan 0-1 Zhao Xintong
13:34 , Flo CliffordO’Sullivan just doesn’t look comfortable so far, completely missing the red to left corner.
Zhao gets unlucky on the same pocket, leaving the red nestling against the cushion.
It’s a stop-start frame so far and O’Sullivan looks a little furstrated after putting too much topspin on a short-range black to bottom right. Zhao remains cool and composed and has the chance to string something together here.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 0-1 Zhao Xintong
13:26 , Flo CliffordZhao looks totally focused. A miss on the yellow doesn’t matter as he takes the frame 82-2.
Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Zhao Xintong
13:25 , Flo CliffordO’Sullivan can’t quite take advantage, but then Zhao misses a fairly routine red to bottom left, letting the Englishman back in, 63 behind.
Slightly stop-start now, but Zhao returns to form with a brilliant long-range pot.
Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Zhao Xintong
13:20 , Flo CliffordA smooth start by Zhao Xintong. He does well potting the black, dispersing a crowd of reds in the process and positioning them perfectly. A break of 60 for the Chinese player before a small slip puts him in a spot of bother on the pink, so he plays safety.
Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Zhao Xintong
13:14 , Flo Clifford‘The Rocket’ wins the toss but his break-off is less than ideal as he sends the white into the green pocket!
An early lead for Zhao, who has settled quickly, and calmly sets about knocking the reds in.
The stage is set
13:11 , Flo CliffordThe players get a standing ovation from a packed crowd at the Crucible.
Zhao Xintong high-fives some of the audience as he walks down the stairs. He looks pretty relaxed and seems to enjoy the moment.
The volume ratchets up a notch for Ronnie O’Sullivan.
World Snooker Championship 2025: Semi-finals
13:05 , Flo CliffordNearly time for the first of the semi-finals.
A reminder that the last-four encounters are best of 33 frames, played over four sessions.
Will Ronnie O’Sullivan extend his bid for a record eighth world title? Let’s find out...
World Snooker Championship 2025: Results, draw and semi-final schedule in full
13:00 , Flo Clifford(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
Shaun Murphy keen to change miss rule in snooker
12:46 , Jack Rathborn"Totally scrap it, the miss rule was always in the rules, it wasn't a new rule, stop playing deliberate fouls,” Shaun Murphy says.
“It's gone full circule, players are playing deliberate fouls, the rule needs taking out, I think it's bad, not trying to hit the ball, but get that tactical advantage.
“I would [implement the ball in hand rule] if it was up to me, after any foul, it'd put the cat among the pidgeons!"
World Snooker Championship 2025: Ronnie O'Sullivan's run to semi-finals
12:40 , Jack RathbornFirst round: Ronnie O'Sullivan (5) 10-4 Ali Carter
Second round: Ronnie O'Sullivan 13-4 Pang Junxu
Quarter-finals: Ronnie O’Sullivan 13-9 Si Jiahui
World Snooker Championship 2025: Zhao Xintong's run to semi-finals
12:33 , Jack RathbornFirst round: Jak Jones (16) 4-10 Zhao Xintong
Second round: Lei Peifan 10-13 Zhao Xintong
Quarter-finals: Zhao Xintong 13-5 Chris Wakelin
Snooker to review transgender policy after UK Supreme Court ruling
12:27 , Jack RathbornSnooker's governing body is to review its transgender inclusion policy in the aftermath of the landmark UK Supreme Court ruling.
The ruling stated that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex under equalities law.
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) stated it “has always been that its policy would be subject to immediate review should there be a change in circumstances".
Currently, trans women are permitted to compete in snooker events if their testosterone levels are below a specified level over a period of 12 months before competing.
The WPBSA said: "This is a complicated issue as the WPBSA is a world body and has to ensure it complies with equality legislation around the world as well as in the UK."
Ronnie O'Sullivan cautious over competition in World Snooker Championship
12:15 , Jack Rathborn"I have relied on other people to win and that doesn't feel good for me. I always feel better when I force the opening and put the pressure on my opponents. You feel a lot better when you've won the match rather than they've lost it.
"Look at Judd and Mark [Williams] and Zhao, I won't be able to get away with the standard I have played the last three matches at."
John Parrott rejects Ronnie O'Sullivan's claim over lack of practice
11:48 , Jack RathbornRonnie O’Sullivan has previously claimed he doesn’t practice much, but BBC pundit John Parrott maintains ‘The Rocket’ is working as hard as ever.
“Don't listen to him saying he doesn't practice. He is in the club grafting like a Trojan, he puts the hours in and he wants to win,” Parrott said.
"You will never see anyone like him again. He's the best player I've ever seen. His cue ball control is at another level. He's on another level to anyone who has played this game."
'Drained' Mark Williams 'over the moon' to reach final four at Crucible
11:35 , Jack Rathborn"Draining,” Williams says reflecting on his big quarter-final win. “I was really drained this morning, two tough sessions then back.
“I lost four frames and potted two balls, then won it on the black, unbelievable. I would've just rolled in the blue.
“I felt really calm cleaning up the last few colours, just wanted to get through, drained, but I'm over the moon."
Zhao Xintong claims he is ‘stronger’ following snooker ban
11:08 , Jack RathbornRonnie O’Sullivan faces Zhao Xintong in the semi-finals today and the Chinese player admits he is now “stronger” since his snooker ban.
Zhao served a 20-month ban after a betting scandal and is now ready to battle with ‘The Rocket’ for a place in the final.
“I trusted that I can come back, but I’m really happy because I’ve come back to the semi-final so quickly,” Zhao said. “I think it’s a surprise for me. I’m not really ready, I had one year not playing competition. I think I’m stronger than before because it’s two years later, I think I’m stronger.”
Luca Brecel hails Judd Trump as ‘probably the best ever'
10:54 , Jack Rathborn“Yeah, absolutely. He’s incredible,” the Belgian said after his quarter-final defeat. “He’s so difficult to play against. Anyone in the draw I would have fancied beating but he’s just a different level.
“He’s just the best. Just his all round game, I think, you have many players who can score unbelievably, but he backs it up with great safety and great long-potting. That’s incredibly difficult and that’s the reason he’s number one.
“I think he’s been the best player for maybe the last five years, so it’s no surprise. He actually always plays like a number one, I think some years maybe the number one wasn’t as good as him. I think he’s probably the best number one that’s ever been, maybe.”
World Snooker Championship 2025: Results, draw and semi-final schedule in full
09:32 , Jack Rathborn(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
