Zhao Xintong has confessed that the strain of breaking the so-called Crucible curse is robbing him of sleep at night. The Chinese star admits he is feeling the weight of expectation as defending champion.
Xintong has transformed from a “nobody guy” to the centre of attention in Sheffield as he bids to defend the maiden title he claimed 12 months ago. No first-time winner has ever returned to triumph at the World Championship the following year, yet he remains firmly in contention having secured a quarter-final showdown with Shaun Murphy after beating fellow countryman Ding Junhui.
Yet Xintong insists he is “very far” from his peak and acknowledges the mounting tension, saying: “I think it’s a very different feeling like before.
“Last year I was a nobody guy. This year as champion, I don’t want to lose any match and the pressure is still coming.
“A few days this week I didn’t sleep very well. I think it’s always like that in the Crucible match, but I think tonight I’ll be better.
“I try to enjoy it on the table, but I have more pressure than before. I think I can control it in the future. Hopefully next round I will be better.
“I think I can be because now I’m in the quarter-final and I just want to keep going. I’m not thinking a lot. The quarter-final is very good. The big snooker is pressure.”
Interest back home was immense when he faced Junhui, with a vast snooker-obsessed audience tuning in across China.
Xintong added: “It was very special for us. I think the Chinese players have more pressure now it is a very popular sport in China with a lot of fans watching. It’s very good news but our players have more pressure.
“I felt more, not like yesterday or the first session. I’m lucky I can win. I’m really happy, I know it’s very difficult, very tough for both [of us].
“I got some messages. I just try to calm down. With the match finished, maybe I will send a message back.”
Xintong entered the match in high spirits after watching his favourite football team, Manchester City, beat Southampton the previous evening to reach the FA Cup.
The Asian star has previously snooker previously with the duo of James Trafford and Rico Lewis, and he smiled: “Yeah, I saw the last day 2-1. It’s very good. Just like me, [they] keep going.”