Zhao Xintong defeats Ding Junhui to reach 2026 World Snooker Championship quarter-finals
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Apr 26
Zhao Xintong defeats Ding Junhui to reach 2026 World Snooker Championship quarter-finals
9 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Apr 26
Zhao, 29, overcame Ding 13-9 in Sheffield, making three centuries and five half-centuries to secure his place in the last eight.
He will face 2005 champion Shaun Murphy next, aiming to break the 'Crucible Curse' by defending his title successfully.
The match drew massive interest in China, with millions reportedly watching, while Ding, the 2016 runner-up, expressed disappointment in his performance against the reigning champion.
Can champion Zhao Xintong's dominant season finally break the 49-year-old 'Crucible Curse'?
At age 50, could this be the final Crucible showdown between O'Sullivan and John Higgins?
Is O'Sullivan's frustration a sign of weakness or the fire needed for a record eighth world title?
Is Wu Yize's match against Selby the start of a new era, as snooker legends predict?
Does the record number of Chinese players mark a permanent power shift in world snooker?
How does conflict at home affect Hossein Vafaei's focus against the world number one?