Zhao Xintong overcomes fatigue after late travel dash to win epic Champion of Champions group on final ball

Zhao showed the sort of sizzling form which took him to his historic Crucible triumph back in the spring as he emerged from the ‘group of death’ at the Mattioli Arena to set up a blockbuster last four showdown with world number one Judd Trump on Friday evening.

Having reached the semis of the recent International Championship in Nanjing where he bowed out to eventual champion Wu Yize last Friday, Zhao only arrived back in the UK today, with his flight touching down in Manchester just before 8am. He then made the trip across to Leicester for his opening match in the afternoon.

Following Trump’s disjointed opening day progression, Tuesday’s action was magnificent with two deciding frame finishes and a bucket-full of breaks.

World number two Kyren Wilson was involved in both final frame deciders. He kicked off day two in superb style, registering runs of 88, 115 and 60 as he established a 3-0 lead over debutant Jack Lisowski. But after missing a chance to wrap up a whitewash win, newly minted Northern Ireland Open champion Lisowski got on the scoreboard, and then produced efforts of 61 and 115 to take the tie all the way.

However, after Lisowski missed a long red in frame seven, Wilson regrouped with a 122 to go through to the group final.

Next up on the table was Zhao against two-time Champion of Champions winner Mark Allen. It would be a match to forget for Allen as he potted just one ball throughout the entire contest with his Chinese opponent recording breaks of 60, 78 and 76 in a 4-0 victory.

In a clash between snooker’s last two world champions, Zhao faced Wilson a few hours later in the group final.

Runs of 73, 99 and 78 helped Zhao to a 3-1 mid-session lead; Wilson had earlier levelled after a 66 in frame two.

On resumption, though, momentum shifted as reigning German Masters, Players Championship and Shanghai Masters title holder Wilson produced a purple patch, stringing together four consecutive frames with breaks of 104, 62, 120 and 88.

However, at the point of no return, Zhao - who had shown signs of fatigue in his seat - responded with a 136 before capitalising on a fluked red that started a break of 64 in frame ten which aided him in forcing a decider.

Lots more drama was to come in that final frame as Wilson banged the butt of his cue on the floor after leaving Zhao on a red.

With the balls having been less than ideally placed, Zhao compiled a classy contribution of 58, but within a couple of pots of leaving his opponent needing penalty points, he failed with a thin cut on a blue.

Wilson went about a counter clearance, sinking the five remaining reds with colours, then yellow to pink, but it always seemed like being decided on the black which was near a side cushion.

After not obtaining position on it, Wilson executed a fine safety. Zhao replied, but left the object ball short, allowing his peer a chance to pot a long, relatively straight one from distance.

But Wilson missed the tricky ball, and watched the black travel twice across the table, back towards the same pocket he aimed for, landing pretty much over it to leave the simplest of pots for a relieved Zhao.

After a disappointing start to his reign wearing the world crown, Zhao appears to be coming into form. This is only his second appearance in the Champion of Champions and he has already improved on his debut from 2022 when he went out in the last eight.

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