On April 23, 2022, Beijing time, the Snooker World Championship entered the eighth matchday, the second round of the main tournament, Zhao Xintong lost 9-13 to Stephen Maguire, missed the quarterfinals, and did not have the opportunity to play O'Sullivan at Crucible. At this point, only 22-year-old Yan Bingtao was left in the Chinese legion.
At this World Championship, Zhao Xintong was pinned high hopes on because he won two ranking championships this season, the world ranking ranked in the top ten, the single season ranking ranked in the top three, in the case of Ding Junhui's declining performance, Zhao Xintong bravely picked the beam. Zhao Xintong's advantage is that the attack is very sharp, once in the state, he can play a smooth attack continuously, although defense is his weakness, but O'Sullivan is helping him.
For these reasons, Chinese fans hope that Zhao Xintong will continue to break through and launch an impact on the world championship. In the first round of the main round, Zhao Xintong was indeed in excellent shape, and hendry, O'Sullivan, Jimmy White and other celebrities praised him. However, in the second round against the stronger Stephen Maguire, Zhao Xintong's shortcomings were exposed, once the offensive feel was not good, his defensive shortcomings were infinitely magnified, coupled with the opponent played a high-intensity defense, Zhao Xintong only won 5 sets in the first two stages, 5-11 behind, into a desperate situation.
After the game, Zhao Xintong said that he would let go of the fight next, because the score gap was huge, and it was indeed very difficult to turn over. To put it simply, as long as Stephen Maguire wins two more sets, he can eliminate Zhao Xintong.
In the 17th set, Zhao Xintong's long platform attacked successfully, and he made a mistake when hitting the difficult red ball of the middle bag, and scored 41 points with a single shot. Stephen Maguire then picked up, but also scored just 16 points before the two moved into defense. Subsequently, Zhao Xintong's bench attack was successful again, but the mistake of hitting the coffee ball, Maguire also made many mistakes, or Zhao Xintong seized the opportunity to win back a set, and the big score was 6-11 behind.
In the 18th set, Maguire's defense made a mistake, Zhao Xintong started again, single shot 85 points, Zhao Xintong won 2 consecutive sets, continuing to put pressure on Maguire. In the 19th inning, Maguire found a breakthrough and shot 81 points to lead 12-7 and take the match point. In the 20th set, Maguire ventured to attack and lose his hand, Zhao Xintong got on and played a single shot of 67 points, but he lost the super bonus ball, Maguire also made a mistake, the mother ball accidentally fell into the bag, Zhao Xintong chased another set, 8-12 behind into the rest time.
Back from the break, both were cautious, Zhao Xintong missed the opportunity in defense, Maguire scored 7 points after a low-level mistake, Zhao Xintong did not control the mother ball, only scored 8 points, the two turned to defense. Zhao Xintong won the long stage, and then made a wonderful snooker, Maguire sent a chance, Zhao Xintong got started, played a single shot 48 points, leading 57-7. Maguire made a defensive mistake, and Zhao Xintong started again, completing the super score in one fell swoop, and the big score was 9-12 behind.
In the 22nd inning, Maguire was a little anxious, the long platform attack lost his hand, the mother ball accidentally dropped the bag, Zhao Xintong lost the bag powder ball, Maguire got on, played a single 59 points, 13-9 win. Maguire eliminated Sean Murphy and Zhao Xintong in a row to advance to the quarterfinals, and if nothing else, Maguire will play O'Sullivan in the quarter-finals. And with Zhao Xintong out, the Chinese legion is only 22-year-old Yan Bingtao!