Zhao Xintong’s 26-match winning run was ended unceremoniously by Kyren Wilson who beat the world champion 10-5 in the Shanghai Masters semi-finals.
The Cyclone was last beaten in November by Shaun Murphy at the UK Championship, winning a string of games on the amateur circuit before romping to World Championship victory at the Crucible.
The Shanghai Masters was the first time Zhao was in action since his Crucible triumph and he looked good in beating Chris Wakelin and Ding Junhui to reach the final four.
The 28-year-old continued to impress in the first session of the semi, leading 5-4 with breaks of 121, 113 and 95 along the way.
However, he pretty much collapsed in the evening session, with Wilson playing very nicely, but Zhao a long way from his best as the Englishman won six frames on the bounce to reach the final.
It wasn’t clear what caused the sharp downward turn in Zhao’s form, but he missed a number of easy balls, often after potting trickier ones to get in.
The Warrior was happy to accept the gifts and continues a brilliant run which has seen him beat Si Jiahui 6-5 and Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-3.
Waiting for Wilson in the final is Ali Carter who has had a remarkable event after stepping in as a late replacement for Mark Allen, who withdrew due to personal reasons.
The Captain came from 5-2 behind to beat Mark Williams 6-5 in the last 16, then did the exact same thing to Xiao Guodong in the quarter-finals.
Carter was in trouble again in the semis at 8-6 behind against Mark Selby, but reeled off four frames on the spin to win 10-6.
‘I was just out there competing,’ said Carter. ‘At 8-6 down he missed a blue and it gave me a glimmer of hope. It was very pleasing to get over the line with a one visit.
‘I’ve been 5-2 down twice and 8-6 here. I’ve been looking to go home and move my flight forward. It is as simple as that. You can have all of the positive things said to you, think this and think that, but the secret is to not think anything. I shouldn’t be here now really. If Mark Allen hadn’t withdrawn, I hope he is alright, then I wouldn’t be.
‘I love Shanghai, I love the city and I love the tournament. I won it back in 2010 and it would be great to try and win it on Sunday. Whether it is Kyren Wilson, who is growing in confidence, or the current World Champion and everyone’s favourite in China Zhao Xintong.
‘I’m a wily old fox and I’ll just see if I can turn up and upset the apple cart.’
Shanghai Masters finalists’ results
Kyren Wilson
10-8 Zhao Xintong
6-3 Ronnie O’Sullivan
6-5 Si Jiahui
Ali Carter
10-8 Mark Selby
6-5 Xiao Guodong
6-5 Mark Williams
6-0 Qiu Lei
Wilson and Carter have both won the Shanghai Masters before, but in its previous life as a ranking event.
The Warrior broke through from mid-ranking player to top contender thanks to beating Judd Trump in the 2015 final, while the Captain landed the Shanghai title way back in 2010 when he downed Jamie Burnett in the showpiece.
The Ding Curse lives on
Zhao’s defeat to Wilson continues the remarkable run of players who have beaten Ding Junhui losing their next game.
Every player to beat Ding in a World Snooker Tour event has lost in the next round since the 2024 Welsh Open.
The run goes all the way back to the 2023/24 season, with the last person to knock Ding out of an event (before the final) and win their next round being Robbie Williams at the Welsh in February last year.
The legend of the Ding Curse lives on!