Zhao Xintong's 20-month snooker ban, Ronnie O'Sullivan stance, Stephen Hendry comment

Zhao Xintong has made a triumphant return to the securing a spot in the semi-finals in what many see as a stunning comeback story. The 28-year-old, playing under amateur status, battled through four intense qualifying matches - claiming victories over Ka Wai Cheung and Elliot Slessor - to book his return to the Crucible.

In the tournament proper, Zhao cruised past last year's runner-up with a 10-4 scoreline, overpowered Lei Peifan in the second round, and dismantled Chris Wakelin 13-5 in the quarter-finals. He now finds himself in a high-stakes semi-final clash with in what could be a match that defines his return after a 20-month absence.

Back in January 2023, Zhao's rising career was halted due to his suspension amid a The WPBSA found him guilty of involvement in match manipulation and placing bets between 2019 and 2022, although he was cleared of directly fixing his own matches.

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He accepted the allegations and received the briefest suspension among the 10 Chinese players penalised. Zhao returned to competition in September 2024, lighting up the Q Tour with four straight wins and two perfect 147 breaks, reclaiming his place on snooker's biggest stage.

Speaking to the about his break from the game, Zhao reflected: "Two years ago I made a little mistake... I know how important snooker is to me. These two years have been very long for me, I've practiced every day."

Prior to his suspension, Zhao was already turning heads - In 2022, before the Players Championship, the seven-time champion drew a comparison between Zhao and the young

"The last time I was this excited about a player was when I saw Stephen Hendry play when I was only about nine years old... Zhao is the only one since that made me think, 'Wow, he could be something special,'" O'Sullivan admitted.

O'Sullivan even likened Zhao to highlighting his elegant game and suggesting he had the tools to challenge his own legacy. "He's maybe the only one out there who could topple some of those," the Wordsley native claimed, noting Zhao's sensational potting and attacking style.

Just last month, O'Sullivan reinforced that praise with another bold prediction. "I think in three years, he'll be No. 1, champion. He's our and he's a cool-looking guy; he's got something about him. Unbelievable talent," he said.

"To me, he's the nearest thing to Stephen Hendry. His scoring is unbelievable, his positional play, his touch. He's got power. He's got everything, this kid."

Zhao himself sees O'Sullivan as a personal idol, calling their showdown at the Crucible "a dream" come true. "Ronnie is the greatest player ever. I watched him when I was a kid, and to play him in a semi-final is a dream," he told WST after his quarter-final win. "I just want to enjoy it and play my game."

The admiration between the two adds a compelling dimension to their semi-final duel, a gruelling best-of-33-frame battle that could shape the course of Zhao's remarkable return. O'Sullivan is chasing a record-breaking eighth world title but has shown signs of inconsistency in recent months.

That lack of sharpness might cost him dearly against an inspired Zhao, who Hendry himself warned is a dangerous opponent. On his Snooker Club podcast, Hendry praised Zhao's "stardust" and "X-Factor," noting his extraordinary flair.

"There are only a handful of players who really stand out... Zhao, when he plays like that, has got that," Hendry said, echoing O'Sullivan's belief in his world-beating potential. Although O'Sullivan has won both their previous meetings, this upcoming encounter promises to be their most balanced yet.

Whoever emerges victorious will meet either or in the final. While a win for O'Sullivan would solidify his legacy as the greatest of the modern era, Zhao has the chance to begin a legacy of his own - potentially one that will end up alongside O'Sullivan's and Hendry's. All eyes are now fixed on what could become a defining moment in modern snooker history.