Zhao Xintong achieved a historic milestone earlier this year, becoming the first Chinese player to capture the World Championship title.
China’s Zhao Xintong has secured his spot in the Champion of Champions semi-finals after a captivating 6-5 victory over Kyren Wilson in a match that culminated in a tense black-ball decider.
Despite Zhao initially leading 3-1, Wilson mounted a strong comeback, winning the subsequent four frames with notable breaks of 104 and 120.
Zhao, the reigning world champion, responded by claiming the next two frames, highlighted by his first century break of the match, leveling the score at 5-5.
A break of 58 provided Zhao with an advantage in the deciding frame at Leicester’s Mattioli Arena, but Wilson countered with a run of 54, setting the stage for a black-ball finish.
Wilson’s attempt narrowly missed, rattling the jaws of both corner pockets, allowing Zhao to capitalize on a more straightforward opportunity and secure the win.
“When I was 3-1 up I missed a few shots and he came out to go 5-3 and I was just thinking I don’t him to win so easy,” he told ITV.
“I was a little lucky in the last two frames and got away with a couple of misses.”
Zhao is now set to face Judd Trump, the world number two, in the semi-finals of the invitational tournament featuring 16 players, a non-ranking event.
Earlier, the 28-year-old cruised through his opening match, defeating Mark Allen with a convincing 4-0 victory.
Northern Ireland’s Allen managed to score only a single point across four frames as Zhao compiled breaks of 60, 78, and 76 on his way to victory.
Wilson had advanced by securing a 4-3 win against fellow Englishman Jack Lisowski in a closely contested match.
Lisowski had fought back from a 3-0 deficit to level the match, but Wilson responded with a break of 122 to clinch the win.