John Higgins suffered the heaviest defeat of his 34-year profession as he misplaced 10-1 to Zhao Xintong in the semi-finals of the Tour Championship in Manchester.
The defending champion was swept apart by China’s Zhao, who racked up 11 breaks over 50 together with one century.
The four-time world champion prevented failing to win a single body when he took the tenth with Zhao on the verge of victory.
But Higgins’ reprieve was temporary because the reigning world champion wrapped up victory in the next body with a break of 85 and he’ll now face world number one Judd Trump in Sunday’s final.
The 50-year-old has twice misplaced by a margin of 9 frames earlier than – 13-4 against Stephen Hendry on the 2012 World Championship and 18-9 against Judd Trump in the 2019 Crucible last – however had by no means skilled such an emphatic defeat in a best-of-19 contest.
“I played well and I am very happy to reach the final,” stated Zhao.
“My cueing was very good. I tried not to think too much – I just enjoyed the table and concentrated on the balls.
“This season I’ve been in 4 finals and I’m having fun with each second and making an attempt to get higher.
“To play Judd in a final for the first time will be a big moment for me. It will be very tough.”
The 29-year-old moved into his sixth rating last having received his first 5 – a feat solely beforehand achieved by Steve Davis, Mark Williams and Neil Robertson.
Zhao is making an attempt to develop into the primary participant to win all three occasions in the Players Series in the identical season, having triumphed in each the World Grand Prix and Players Championship in February.
He is assured to maneuver to a career-high fourth place in the world rating no matter the results of Sunday’s last, which shall be his first assembly with Trump at this stage of a match.
