Zhao Xintong fought back to draw level with Shaun Murphy in a thrilling evening of World Championship quarter-final action at the Crucible. The defending champion showed his ruthless streak to finish the session with a flourish as the rivals ended deadlocked at 8-8.
Murphy entered the session with a 5-3 lead after recovering from losing the first three frames, but Zhao’s 129 points in two visits without reply helped him close the gap. However, Murphy edged ahead with a break of 90 before tactical play in the 12th frame favoured Zhao, who levelled the scores.
Both players missed routine shots in the 13th before Murphy pulled clear with a 65. Zhao responded with a break of 117 and then capitalised on a Murphy error to win the last frame of the session, tying the match at 8-8 heading into Wednesday’s session.
In the night’s other quarter-final, Mark Allen and Barry Hawkins also ended level at 8-8, with three century breaks in a remarkable finish. Hawkins led 5-3 overnight and extended his advantage with a 96 break, but Allen hit back with a 138. Hawkins answered with a 140, equalling the tournament’s highest break, before Allen took the next two frames with a 131.
In earlier action, Neil Robertson led John Higgins 5-3, while Hossein Vafaei fought back to draw level 4-4 with Wu Yize.
