Ronnie O’Sullivan v Zhao Xintong LIVE: World Snooker Championship semi-final scores and updates – UK Times

Much 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!

Oooh, 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.

Zhao 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?

O’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.

Zhao looks totally focused. A miss on the yellow doesn’t matter as he takes the frame 82-2.

O’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.

A 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.

‘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 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.

Nearly 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…