Zhao Xintong, Ronnie O'Sullivan clash in World Snooker semi-finals

China's Zhao Xintong reached his first-ever World Snooker Championship semi-final after defeating Chris Wakelin 13-5, joining the ranks of only a few Chinese players to have advanced this far in the tournament. Zhao will face seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, who secured his place in the semi-finals by overcoming Si Jiahui 13-9 in what will be his 14th semi-final appearance at the Crucible. Both Zhao and O’Sullivan emphasized the importance of mental strength in the demanding long-format matches, though Zhao admitted to feeling some fatigue after playing for over 20 consecutive days. Zhao expressed admiration for O’Sullivan, calling him his childhood hero and considering it an honor to play against him. The other semi-final match features three-time world champion Mark Williams against World No. 1 Judd Trump, following their close victories in the quarterfinals. The semi-finals are set to begin on Thursday, with the winners moving on to the championship match.