Snooker fans told 'no refunds' for Ronnie O'Sullivan Crucible match that finished a session early

That's because Zhao Xintong has already booked his place in the final following a heavy 17-7 semi-final defeat of Ronnie O'Sullivan on Friday night in Sheffield.

Playing within the one-table set-up at the Crucible for the first time in his career, Zhao crushed the seven-time World Champion with a session to spare, and now has the opportunity to relax and prepare for the biggest match of his life by having Saturday off.

Zhao will face either world number one Judd Trump or three-time World Champion Mark Williams in the showpiece contest across Sunday and Monday. Trump and Williams will be on the baize for both the morning and evening sessions in Sheffield as they conclude their last four encounter.

Former UK Champion Zhao - who is competing at this year's blue riband event as an invited amateur - did the damage on O'Sullivan during their second session on Friday morning where he won all eight frames to inflict the fourth Crucible session whitewash defeat of O'Sullivan's long, illustrious career.

Returning several hours later 12-4 up, Zhao claimed the five frames he needed to become the second player from China to reach the world professional snooker championship final, following in the footsteps of Ding Junhui who was the runner-up in 2016.

It was reported that O'Sullivan took the drastic action of changing the ferrule on his cue from titanium to brass between the first and second sessions.

Whilst Zhao's result and performance was very impressive, it does leave a big hole in the schedule for a prime time slot on Saturday afternoon, with the fourth session no longer required.

However, ticket holders for that session will still see baize action with the World Snooker Tour releasing a statement on its website on Friday evening saying that a 90-minute exhibition between Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor will take place.

The organisers also reiterated that there would be no ticket refunds or exchanges. The announcement said:

Fans with tickets to the Halo World Championship for the 2.30pm session on Saturday May 3rd will be treated to an exhibition featuring Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor as they look back on the 1985 Crucible final.

It's 40 years since Taylor beat Davis 18-17 in the famous 'black ball final' and the two all-time legends will celebrate that extraordinary moment in British sport.

The exhibition will start at 2.30pm and run until approximately 4pm, including a short interval. For fans with hospitality tickets including Century Club, all timings remain the the same.

This exhibition will take place instead of the fourth session of the semi-final between Zhao Xintong and Ronnie O'Sullivan, as that match was completed on Friday evening.

As explained in our box office terms and conditions, we are unable to offer ticket refunds or exchanges. We hope you enjoy the show!

Shortly before the televised stages of this year's World Championship, Davis and Taylor had already performed a special exhibition at the Crucible to celebrate the 40th anniversary of snooker's most famous moment.

Of course, matches finishing with a session to spare are not an uncommon occurrence at the Crucible.

Three world finals have been completed within three sessions. In 1983, Davis defeated Cliff Thorburn 18-6, while in 1989 Davis caused the heaviest final defeat in Crucible history by crushing John Parrott, 18-3.

In 1993, Stephen Hendry dispatched Jimmy White 18-5 without requiring the fourth session.

Earlier in this year's blue riband event, there was just one frame on both tables on the second Monday of the competition as O’Sullivan and Luca Brecel wrapped up respective 13-4 round two victories.

Due to that early finish, a version of Big Break was put on for the paying punters at the Crucible, with Ken Doherty, Dennis Taylor and Jimmy White all featuring.

Despite the World Snooker Tour’s exhibition offering on Saturday afternoon, fans online have expressed their dismay and anger that refunds will not be issued, even though the small print at purchase covers this scenario.

Many buyers will have spent in excess of £100 for the concluding session tickets, and there are suggestions that the WST in future should look at what other sports do when there is no scheduled play is possible - such as rain cancellations at Wimbledon, or a test match in cricket finishing a day early.