Zhao won his maiden Crucible crown last year and has continued to find himself in the winners’ circle thereafter. In the preceding months since last year’s victory, Zhao has won four tournaments and moved up to fourth in the world rankings.
Commenting on Hendry’s record after winning the World Championship for the first time, Persad remarked: “There’s certainly been no hangover for Zhao Xintong since winning the World Championship last year.
“Stephen, I was looking at your record after you won the world title in 1990, the following season you won five ranking titles and the Masters. Is that an easy thing to do after winning the world title for the first time, to produce that sort of performance the season after?”
Sensing the opportunity for a humble brag, Hendry replied: “Not if you’re good enough. It’s quite easy,” to which the Crucible crowd responded with laughter, while Persad struggled to formulate an adequate response.
After sending the theatre into raptures, Hendry did offer plenty of praise to the 29-year-old, saying: “I think he’s an outstanding player, he plays the game properly with such ease.
“He glides through every tournament he plays, he’s simmering underneath at this tournament. His second round game was awkward, but he came through it comfortably.”
The second-round clash Hendry referenced was against countryman Ding Junhui, who earlier in the tournament had likened Zhao to none other than Ronnie O’Sullivan. He told TNT Sports: “Look now, it’s just like Ronnie O’Sullivan. New stars for snooker, I think in the future, he will take everything over.”
Zhao is aiming to break the Crucible Curse by winning back-to-back titles as a maiden winner for the first time since the Championship moved to Sheffield. He had got off to a lightning start against Murphy by winning the first three frames, but the Englishman quickly pegged him back to level things at 3-3.