Ronnie O’Sullivan swept aside by Chinese star Zhao Xintong in Crucible semis

Zhao becomes the second Chinese player to reach the Crucible final.Download

Ronnie O’Sullivan lost 17-7 in his World Championship semi-final to Zhao Xintong. Pic: Mike Egerton/PA

Ronnie O’Sullivan’s hopes of an eighth World Snooker Championship crown were destroyed as Zhao Xintong thrashed him 17-7 with a session to spare in Sheffield.

Zhao took a stranglehold on the semi-final by winning all eight frames in a remarkable session on Friday morning – only the fourth whitewash of O’Sullivan’s long Crucible career.