Zhao Xintong is out of the World Snooker Championship but Stephen Hendry does not think he has conquered the Crucible for the last time, not be a long chalk.
After wining the world title in impressive style last year and enjoying a superb season which saw him add three more ranking titles to his collection, he arrived back at the Crucible as clear favourite to defend his title.
That would have seen him break the infamous Crucible curse, which has seen no first time world champion defend their title the following year at the Sheffield venue.
The curse was not to be denied, though, and Zhao was downed 13-10 by a brilliant Shaun Murphy performance in the quarter-finals.
Defeat to the Magician has not soured Hendry’s opinion of Zhao, expecting him to join a very exclusive club of players to win at least four World Championship titles.
‘If Zhao Xintong doesn’t win four world titles I’ll be shocked,’ said Hendry on the BBC. ‘He’s the future of the game.’
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In the modern game it is only Hendry himself, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Steve Davis, Mark Selby and John Higgins who have claimed the world title four or more times, so it is a big call from the Scot.
Davis is also a huge fan of Zhao, saying of the Cyclone: ‘He’s a great player, he’s had a great season. He’s going to be around for many years to come and he’ll be lifting plenty of silverware. He’s got a sensible head on his shoulders.
‘He’s going to be a strong contender next season, I can’t see him stumbling at all.’
Zhao was full of praise for Murphy in defeat, especially the 43-year-old’s long-potting, which was immense in the final session.
‘Shaun today he played really, really well, he gave me big pressure, he played perfect snooker today, he deserved the win,’ Zhao said on the BBC.
‘I still feel pressure, but I feel alright. I’m trying to get better but Shaun is a very good player and played very well. Congratulations to him.
‘He played really well. I gave him some difficult long pots and he can pot everything today!’
The 29-year-old agrees with Hendry that he will have more success in the future, saying that he expects to come back strongly after a summer break.
‘I’m looking forward to the new season, I can have a rest now. I’m happy,’ he said. ‘Next season I will strongly come back.’
The praise for Zhao kept coming, with Murphy saying: ‘I’m so in awe of Xintong and how he plays the game, when he’s in full flow he’s just mesmerising to watch.’
It is Murphy who moves on, though, setting up a semi-final with either Neil Robertson or John Higgins, starting on Thursday afternoon.
The Thunder from Down Under is 9-7 ahead of the Wizard of Wishaw going into their final session on Wednesday night.