John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

If I'd have been in Zhao's camp, I'd have taken 2-2 to get a footing in the match.

The fact he was 2-0 up, he'll be slightly disappointed, but I'd have said that 2-2 is alright just to get a footing in the semi-final.

Shaun Murphy
2005 world champion on BBC Two

It was very brisk indeed and particularly with Zhao, we spoke about the great rhythm he has, he doesn't look like he's in a hurry.

It does help when you've got pinpoint cue ball control. When you're constantly in the right place, it makes the game easier.

Image source, PA Media

This is going to be some semi-final. A brilliant hour of snooker and we're level at 2-2 at the mid-session interval.

O'Sullivan makes a beautiful eight-minute break of 73 and we're 2-2.

This is majestic from O'Sullivan. Up to 41 and going, with some brilliant shots.

Shaun Murphy
2005 world champion on BBC Two

On Ronnie O'Sullivan's cue might be affecting his play if he is using a new tip on his cue:

If he's playing 95% of his shots with side spin, it'll be affecting 95% of his shots. It's because when he strikes the cue ball, he doesn't know how much deviation there's going to be on that cue ball on its way to the object ball.

It'll take some time to get used to that. If it is a new tip, almost every shot he's playing out there is guesswork.

Ronnie O'Sullivan is up and running. He speeds through a break of 64 in about five minutes to get his first frame of the afternoon.

He said he wanted to be tested, he is rising to the challenge, as he has so often done.

That time could be now, as O'Sullivan is at the table and moving nicely.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

Image source, PA Media

It's so important for Zhao Xintong to try to not make those unforced errors positionally, because Ronnie is not playing well at the moment and Zhao is, so you've got to make hay while the sun shines, as it were.

Ronnie will have his time, there's no doubt about that.

Zhao Xintong gets a 32-point lead but then has to play safe. Ronnie O'Sullivan responds by sneaking the cue ball tight behind the blue, but Zhao produces a superb recovery.

Zhao goes into the pack brilliantly, but doesn't like the look of it. Ronnie O'Sullivan gets to the table but a miss with the rest, with the blue ball rattling in the jaws of the pocket, gives Zhao a chance with an inviting table.

Just a reminder, we have eight frames today, eight from 10:00 BST on Friday, eight from 19:00 BST on Friday evening with the final nine on Saturday from 14:30 BST.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

It's great that Zhao has settled down. That was one of the issues we had - his first time here in the semi-finals. He's settled very well.

Ronnie is not quite at it at the moment, he's missed a few shots as well which will help Zhao. He's done great so far, it's a great start.

David: If Ronnie plays as bad as he did against Si against this guy… I’m afraid he’s out by like 17-7.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

Image source, Getty Images

Zhao Xintong could become the first ever amateur to win the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible.

But of course there is a slight anomaly in that, given he won the UK Championship in 2021, has already competed in Sheffield before but was then one of 10 players banned in 2023 following an investigation into match-fixing.

He did not directly throw a match, but accepted charges of being a party to another player fixing two matches, and betting on matches himself.

He returned earlier this term to the Q Tour and is technically still prohibited from playing in mainland China under the suspension given to him by the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association.

However, that is set to end in July so it will not cause him any problems when he returns to the professional tour next season.

The CBSA had also signalled to authorities in the UK that they had no issues with him competing at both the UK Championship and World Championship.

Lovely snooker from Zhao Xintong. O'Sullivan's miss on the black proves costly as Zhao, after his 60 in frame one, makes another 62.

O'Sullivan won 10-4 against Ali Carter, 13-4 against Pang Junxu before being tested last night before defeating Si Jiahui 13-9.

But this is looking like a real battle today.

A couple of early errors from O'Sullivan. He missed a red and you can see he's frustrated with himself, and he's now just missed a short-range black.

After his last-16 win over Pang Junxu, a match O'Sullivan won 13-4, the Rocket, the sport's great perfectionist, gave himself a rating of two out of 10.

He certainly won't be happy so far today. Zhao back at the table and a chance to do some damage.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

It's another gorgeous day in Sheffield.

The sort where you want to get up early in the morning, head for a run, clear the head and grab some fresh air.

And that it seems my preparation for a lengthy stint in the media room is exactly the same as Ronnie O'Sullivan's for his match against Zhao Xintong.

As I was running through one of the parks in the city, the seven-time world champion was getting ready for his World Championship semi-final by doing something very similar.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

Zhao is the real deal, no doubt about it.

Any doubts or questions about how he would react coming here today - this is emphatic, the way he's played this first frame.

If there are any nerves from Zhao who had never got past the last-16 before this year, he wasn't showing them.

However, he has plenty of big experience though as he has won a Triple Crown event with a UK Championship title to his name, winning that in 2021.

O'Sullivan has two points to his name after a missed blue, but Zhao's back at the table and looking to wrap this frame up.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

People were queuing outside the Crucible more than an hour before the start of this afternoon's session.

There was plenty to keep the waiting masses entertained in the Sheffield sunshine, including a jazz band.