World Snooker Champion Zhao Xintong Succumbs to 'Crucible Curse'
Allen advanced after a 13-11 win over Barry Hawkins, and Murphy ended Zhao Xintong’s title defence 13-10 to set up a semi-final meeting.
- On Wednesday, Mark Allen secured a World Snooker Championship semi-final spot after a dramatic 13-11 victory over Barry Hawkins, sealed by a century break in the 23rd frame.
- Shaun Murphy defeated World Champion Xintong 13-10 in their quarter-final, making the Chinese star the 21st player to fail defending a debut title at the Crucible since the curse began nearly 50 years ago.
- Murphy produced a scintillating finish with breaks of 96, 80, 70, and 69, turning an 8-8 tie into a 13-10 triumph while praising Xintong as a "fantastic World Champion."
- Allen will face the winner of Hossein Vafaei versus Wu Yize in the semi-finals, while Murphy awaits either John Higgins or Neil Robertson to continue his pursuit of a second crown.
- Murphy, who won his first World Championship 20 years ago as a 22-year-old, remains convinced the Sheffield jinx will never be broken: "You've got to be careful, those snooker gods are always listening.
31 Articles
31 Articles
Champion Zhao Xintong succumbs to 'Crucible curse'
Defending champion Zhao Xintong fell victim to the "Crucible curse" as he was knocked out of the World Snooker Championship on Wednesday following a 13-10 quarter-final defeat by Shaun Murphy. Zhao, 29, was the first Chinese player to be crowned world champion when he beat three-time winner Mark Williams 18-12 in last year's final. But Wednesday's outcome means no first-time world champion has retained the title since the tournament moved to She…
Idaho Press
China's Zhao Xintong loses in quarterfinals of world snooker champs to end title defense
Zhao Xintong’s title defense at the world snooker championship has ended in the quarterfinals. The 29-year-old Chinese player, who last year became the first Asian to win snooker’s biggest prize, was beaten 13-10 by Shaun Murphy of England. There will…
Radio France Internationale
World snooker champion Zhao Xintong succumbs to 'Crucible curse'
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