Sam Craigie dumps out defending winner Zhao Xintong at British isles Championship

The defending champion crashed out of the British isles Championship at the initially hurdle, with Sam Craigie beating Zhao Xintong 6-2.

Zhao had a breakthrough period in 2021/22 with victory at the British isles Championship and German Masters.

The Chinese player appeared to have the activity at his ft, and world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan took him under his wing in an try to change him from prodigious expertise to serial winner.

The present period has not started off well, as he misplaced in qualifying for the Northern Ireland Open up, in the 2nd round at the British Open up and the same phase at the European Masters.

His big second in Asia before in the yr did not materialise, as he was pressured to withdraw from the Hong Kong Masters after getting diagnosed with Covid-19.

It was hoped that the return to the Barbican in York would spark him into existence, but he in no way appeared comfortable and was 2nd best to Craigie by some length.

The opening 4 frames were shared, with Craigie having the a person ahead of the interval with a crack of 78 to settle the nerves.

It was all Craigie subsequent the split as he received 4 in a row to protected victory.

The sixth and seventh frames were pivotal, as Zhao had chances to snatch both of those but handed them up and Craigie fell more than the line to get within a single of victory.

The remaining body also proved a battle, as Craigie missed a couple of probabilities. Zhao did not punish and the underdog put the match away, albeit a couple of of the potts wriggled in jaws before dropping, as he finished with a 104.

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