'Balls everywhere!' - Wild scenes as pocket BREAKS during Ronnie O'Sullivan v Zhao Xintong World Snooker Championship semi-final clash

Zhao Xintong showed no signs of nerves as he shared the opening session of his World Championship semi-final with seven-time winner Ronnie O'Sullivan. There was no stress in his play, which could not be said of the table at the Crucible, as one of the pockets broke. Watch and stream top snooker action, including the World Championship, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+.

'The pocket has collapsed' - Pocket breaks during O'Sullivan v Zhao semi-final

Video credit: TNT Sports

At times, Zhao Xintong looks unstoppable when potting balls - and not even a broken pocket could halt him in his World Championship semi-final with Ronnie O’Sullivan.

Zhao bookended the first session in positive fashion, as he took the opening two frames and picked off the eighth to ensure the players finished 4-4.

The closing frame saw Zhao compile the highest break of the session, an 86, but it was not without drama as the 2021 UK Championship winner was stopped in his tracks by a broken pocket.

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On what was frame ball, Zhao struck a black to the right corner, which led to oohs and aahs in the Crucible crowd as the pocket broke loose.

"The pocket has collapsed!" said Phil Studd on TNT Sports commentary. "Balls everywhere."

Balls went rolling on the floor, prompting referee Leo Scullion to look at Zhao and say: "Play your shot, I’ll get it."

Balls on the floor next to a broken pocket during the semi final match between Ronnie O'Sullivan of England and Zhao Xintong of China on day thirteen of the Halo World Snooker Championship 2025 at Crucible Theatre on May 01, 2025 in Sheffield, England.

Image credit: Getty Images

Zhao continued on his merry way to clear the table.

Doing his bit to test Scullion’s DIY skills, Zhao thundered a pink into the damaged pocket, and balls were set free again.

"There are still pocket problems," added Studd.

For good measure, Zhao sent the white across the table to take the black into the ailing pocket.

As you would expect from a player whose potting is the envy of the majority in the game, the black found the centre of its target and duly dropped onto the floor - to the delight of those lucky enough to have a ticket for one of the sessions of the tournament to date.

To the relief of Scullion and the table fitters, those eight frames took under 90 minutes to complete - which allows time for repairs to be made before Judd Trump and Mark Williams take centre stage on Thursday evening.

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