International Championship 2023 snooker LIVE - Ronnie O'Sullivan loses to Zhang Anda in semi-final
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ByEurosport
Updated 11/11/2023 at 14:59 GMT
Ronnie O'Sullivan and Zhang Anda resume their International Championship semi-final tied at 4-4 in the race to nine. The seven-time world champion struggled in the first session – at one point returning to the table needing 20 snookers to get his eye in – but fought back to level. Stream top snooker action live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com
'Not feeling comfortable out there' - O'Sullivan returns to table despite needing 20 snookers
Ford v Zhang
Zhang's reward is a showdown with Tom Ford on Sunday. Whatever happens, we are guaranteed a first-time ranking event winner this weekend. Whoever wins will also take the final place in next week's Champion of Champions.
Result: O'Sullivan 6-9 Zhang
Zhang has done it! The home favourite delights the crowd as he reels off five successive frames from 6-4 down to stun O'Sullivan and book his place in Sunday's final.
O'Sullivan 6-8 Zhang (15-57)
Zhang is unlucky not to develop the cluster of reds when looking good to clear. However, he is soon back at the table after O'Sullivan plays a loose safety and leaves a red over the right centre. The match is now at the English Open finalist's mercy.
O'Sullivan 6-8 Zhang (15-17)
It just isn't happening for O'Sullivan, who has an early chance before running out of position on 11. He then hits the pink while attempting to escape a snooker after Zhang closed the deficit. The Chinese now has a decent opportunity for frame and match.
O'Sullivan 6-8 Zhang
Zhang clears to the blue with 30 and is now just one frame away from beating O'Sullivan and booking his place in Sunday's final.
O'Sullivan 6-7 Zhang (39-52)
Aided by a fortunate kiss on the brown, Zhang is able to develop the reds somewhat and edge his nose in front. Although, he is forced to play safe off the last one, and eventually plays a brilliant snooker behind the yellow.
O'Sullivan cannot escape and leaves a free ball. This is a great chance for the Chinese.
O'Sullivan 6-7 Zhang (39-23)
O'Sullivan takes the lead in this frame, but the remaining four reds are tied up and he will have to wait for another opportunity.
O'Sullivan 6-7 Zhang (1-23)
The Chinese is in early control of a scrappy 14th frame. But a loose safety sees O'Sullivan knock in a long red. He has work to do, but this is an opportunity for the Rocket.
O'Sullivan 6-7 Zhang
Zhang produces a sublime clearance of 114 for his third frame in succession. From 6-4 down, the local favourite goes back in front.
O'Sullivan 6-6 Zhang (6-37)
Both players have early chances after the interval, but Zhang now has a decent opportunity to edge his nose back in front. The English Open runner-up is on a break of 29 and counting.
Mid-session
It is now effectively the best of five frames for a place in Sunday's final. Tom Ford awaits the winner, but who will it be?
O'Sullivan 6-6 Zhang
Steal! Zhang calmly clears from the green to snatch frame 12 on the black and we are all square once again at the mid-session interval.
O'Sullivan 6-5 Zhang (48-36)
The Rocket is back at the table, but runs out of position on the green. He then sportingly calls a foul on himself and Zhang has a great chance to steal here.
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'The referee may not have heard it' - O'Sullivan calls a foul on himself in frame 12 of Zhang semi
O'Sullivan 6-5 Zhang (38-17)
O'Sullivan is looking good on 31, but rattles a red in the jaws of the right corner. Zhang will look to punish him, but the final red is tied up and the green is tight to the baulk cushion.
O'Sullivan 6-5 Zhang (6-17)
Zhang demonstrates tremendous cueing as he crunches in a brilliant long, straight red. But he runs out of position slightly and misses a tricky black, meaning the safety battle can recommence.
O'Sullivan 6-5 Zhang (6-1)
It has been a scrappy start to the 12th frame in a match where O'Sullivan is targeting his 14th victory from 15 matches in China this season. Remember, he has already won the Shanghai Masters and reached the Wuhan Open quarter-finals.
O'Sullivan 6-5 Zhang
That will settle Zhang down! A lovely clearance of 83 means he now trails O'Sullivan by just a single frame.
O'Sullivan 6-4 Zhang (18-48)
The Rocket knocks in a long red and has a great chance for 7-4. But he is unfortunate to see a red drop into the left centre after splitting the pack from potting the black. Zhang has a great chance to halve the deficit here.
O'Sullivan 6-4 Zhang (1-13)
Zhang is in first, but can only make 13 after missing a red to the top right corner. But O'Sullivan cannot capitalise after missing a brown while attempting to develop the reds off two cushions.
O'Sullivan 6-4 Zhang
That is now four frames on the spin for the Rocket, who appears to be closing in on the 62nd ranking final of his career.
O'Sullivan 5-4 Zhang (62-9)
O'Sullivan makes 54 before missing a red to the top right corner. But he is soon back at the table and pots a red to the left centre to leave Zhang at the snookers required stage. Trailing 62-9 with 43 points remaining, the Chinese needs three snookers, but will play on in search of them.
O'Sullivan 5-4 Zhang (1-9)
It just hasn't happened for Zhang since the restart as he runs out of position early in the break. A loose safety shot then sees O'Sullivan cut a red into the right corner. The Rocket will look to make the most of this chance.
O'Sullivan 5-4 Zhang (0-2)
An opportunity for Zhang to hit back after winning the safety battle. A reminder he is appearing in only his second ranking semi-final after recording a quartet of 6-3 victories this week, notably taking out Mark Williams and Ding Junhui along the way.
O'Sullivan 5-4 Zhang
Zhang is unfortunate to rattle an attempted long red in the jaws of the corner pocket. O'Sullivan ruthlessly pounces with a swift 52 that gives him the lead for the first time today.
O'Sullivan 4-4 Zhang (31-11)
Zhang bridges the gap slightly, but a safety battle is now ongoing.
O'Sullivan 4-4 Zhang (31-0)
No, he cannot. O'Sullivan runs slightly out of position on 24 and misses a long red to the top right corner. He has left it on for Zhang, who will look to respond.
O'Sullivan 4-4 Zhang (15-0)
O'Sullivan is presented with the first opportunity of the frame after Zhang knocks in the black during his attempted safety. Can the Rocket capitalise?
The boys are on the baize
Off we go! The players are introduced into the arena and bump fists before Zhang breaks off in frame nine of this tense semi-final.
Tom Ford awaits
A showdown with Tom Ford in Sunday's showpiece is on offer to today's winner.
O'Sullivan has won three of the four previous meetings, though Zhang prevailed in their most recent encounter at this season's English Open - a tournament where he reached the final.
Good morning
Hello everyone and a very warm welcome to live text coverage of the International Championship semi-final between Ronnie O'Sullivan and Zhang Anda.
The players are locked at 4-4 following a closely fought opening session, with the Rocket rallying from 4-2 down to square things up at the close of play.
It is the first to nine frames for a place in Sunday's final.
Stream top snooker action, including the World Championship, live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com
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