Ronnie O'Sullivan shows true colours as he speaks out about snooker finalist's 20-month ban

Seven-time world champion has voiced his sympathy for Zhao Xintong and suggested his was harsh. The snooker icon hope of securing an eighth title at the Crucible unravelled following a hefty 17-7 semi-final defeat by the talented Chinese star on Friday.

Zhao made his comeback in September 2024 after a lengthy hiatus, having been punished as part of a match-fixing scandal that involved nine other Chinese players. Zhao was handed the lightest of the 10 punishments by the WPBSA but was nonetheless judged as part of one of the biggest scandals to hit snooker.

The 28-year-old was found in breach of "being party to another player fixing two matches," as well as gambling on snooker matches. In addition to his suspension, he was also slapped with a £7,500 bill to cover costs.

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Despite the evidence put forward, O'Sullivan suggested the sanction applied to Zhao and others seemed somewhat severe. And with Zhao set to win his first final against Mark Williams on Sunday, 'The Rocket' discussed his views openly prior to facing Zhao in the semi-final.

"Yeah, I think it was unfortunate for some of the boys," said O'Sullivan before the semi-final clash (per the ). "I think they wasn't really involved in it from what I gather. So some of them, you just think, it was really harsh for them.

"There's some there that obviously were at it. And I think for some of them, it was a bit unfair. Maybe, I don't know.

"I don't know the full facts of it, to be honest with you. But from what I heard, was just caught in the firing line and a bit [of] naivety, I suppose."

Zhao has bounced back impressively from his snooker suspension and is now tantalisingly close to the Crucible title. His journey to the World Championship final has been marked by a series of commanding performances.

'The Cyclone' has won over fans after beating O'Sullivan, Chris Wakelin, Lei Peifan and Jak Jones on his way to the Crucible. And after attracting negative attention in light of his ban, many fans are now rooting for the Asian star to triumph in Sheffield.

O'Sullivan, 49, has been a guiding force for Zhao and often acted as a mentor to the rising star. They've shared many sessions practising at Victoria's Academy in Sheffield, and touching images emerged showing the pair sharing a backstage embrace after Friday's semi.

After his win, Zhao showed great sportsmanship and encouraged the audience at the Crucible to applaud O'Sullivan despite the one-sided match. Ever the gentleman, The Rocket downplayed his role and focusied the attention on Zhao's achievement.

"I know we've got a really nice relationship, I'm always trying to help him if I can," he said post-match. "He wanted the crowd to give me a clap at the end but it was Zhao's moment, I tried to get off as quickly as I could because it was his moment to enjoy."