Zhao Xintong happy World Championship 'pressure is off' after falling victim to Crucible curse in loss to Shaun Murphy

Zhao Xintong has said he will learn a lot from his first taste of defending the title at the World Championship, after falling at the quarter-final stage to Shaun Murphy.

Murphy and Zhao delivered a high-quality affair, with both playing front-foot snooker.

The contest was level at 8-8 after two sessions, with Murphy taking charge on Wednesday afternoon to run out a 13-10 winner.

Murphy’s win meant the Crucible curse struck again, with Zhao becoming the 21st first-time winner to fail to defend the title in Sheffield.

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The Chinese sensation is looking forward to taking a break and returning home, but vowed to come back stronger in the seasons ahead.

"Everyone is watching you and has high expectations for you," Zhao said. "I've learned a lot from this experience and that will be very helpful for me going forward.

"I hope I can do even better next season."

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Zhao paid tribute to 2005 winner Murphy for how he approached the contest.

"Shaun played really well," Zhao said. "He potted everything and put me under a lot of pressure. He deserved to win. I am happy now I can have a break and the pressure is off."

Speaking to TNT Sports, Zhao added: "I was very much looking forward to the World Championship, but now it is finished I can have a rest. It is all good.

"I am happy this season I got four trophies. I am looking forward to going back to China and seeing my friends. I can then look forward to next season."

'Magnificent cueing' - Zhao sinks stunning red-blue combination

Video credit: TNT Sports

Plenty was made of Murphy’s change of break-off, with the Englishman seen striking the third row of reds as opposed to the conventional method of the bottom row. Zhao felt it could have been a tactical ploy. 

"He made some changes to his break-off, and this made it harder for both of us to score smoothly from the beginning," Zhao said "It might have been a tactical choice for him, and he executed it extremely well."

Murphy will face the winner of the quarter-final between John Higgins and Neil Robertson, and he is eager to go all the way and repeat his win of 21 years ago.

"It would mean more to me to win it now," Murphy said. "I don't remember that much about 2005, because it was my first win of any sort. I didn't know how to savour it. Everything was on videotape back then, that's how long ago it was. 

”I come here every year and try with every ounce of my being. I have been close a few times. Once you get to this stage, you have come a long way to go home with nothing.”

'Clinical when the chances came' - Murphy completes win over Zhao

Video credit: TNT Sports

Murphy was 'fantastic'

Speaking in the TNT Sports studio, Alan McManus felt Murphy was a deserved winner.

"A few days ago I think the feeling was he [Zhao] was the one to beat, I think he was, but Shaun was too good," McManus said.

"He [Zhao] does not have his best game, not that he needs it as he has been winning without it. 

"He has been winning but was always going to come a cropper at some stage, and Shaun was fantastic."

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Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the World Championship, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

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