Snooker followers couldn’t imagine the one-handed trick shot pulled off to pot the ultimate pink in a decider to finish a successful break on the World Open in Yushan, China
Zhao Xintong potted the ultimate pink ball with aplomb to win the deciding body in opposition to Lengthy Zehuang (Picture: TNT Sports activities)
Zhao Xintong channelled his inside Mark Williams to tug off a one-handed trick shot within the World Open second spherical in opposition to Lengthy Zehuang. The reigning world snooker champion already hit an air shot whereas holding the remaining above the desk earlier than managing to make a one-handed pot, too.
Zhao, 28, was 116-1 forward in a ninth and deciding body on the ultimate pink. Having simply sunk the inexperienced, he positioned his proper hand flat on the baize, holding the cue butt in his left, then leaned over to knock it house. Applause broke out contained in the Yushan Sport Centre in response to Zhao’s trick shot earlier than he then accomplished the clearance for a 129 break.
There have been shades of Williams’ one-handed black pot in opposition to Barry Hawkins ultimately month’s Welsh Open within the shot. A person on X made the identical comparability, replying to a clip of the shot by calling Zhao “the younger Mark Williams” and referencing the 22-year age hole. One other added: “Class is everlasting”, whereas yet another stated: “Properly performed”.
Zhao’s showmanship began whereas main 81-21 within the opening body when the world No.5 potted the yellow regardless of the cue ball being simply above the blue by holding the remaining over the desk with out it touching. That win arrange a third-round match with Sam Craigie, having by no means beforehand progressed previous the primary.
He now, nevertheless, appears to be like to win a 3rd rating occasion this season after successful the Gamers Championship and World Grand Prix back-to-back in February. After the World Open, there’s solely the Tour Championship in Manchester earlier than Zhao returns to The Crucible for this 12 months’s World Championship.
He informed TNT Sports activities on the Welsh Open, earlier than dropping to Stuart Bingham within the final 16, “I am trying ahead to it, however no stress, take pleasure in each body.” Zhao would be the newest first-time champion to face the ‘Crucible curse’ with no maiden winner ever defending their title.
Luca Brecel and Kyren Wilson each went out within the first spherical a 12 months after their current success. Zhao’s finest end earlier than final 12 months’s victory was a second-round exit to Stephen Maguire in 2022, together with his solely different look on the Crucible being a defeat on debut to Mark Selby three years earlier.
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Selby is the final participant to defend his world title, going back-to-back in 2016 and 2017. Ronnie O’Sullivan in 2012 and 2013 is the one different particular person to take action this century, being the primary since Stephen Hendry’s 5 straight successes within the Nineties.
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