“It was very difficult for me and there’s a lot of pressure, but it’s good for me and this is a big moment in this season,” mentioned Zhao.
“I just tried to control myself but I didn’t do it very well and hopefully in the next round I can do a lot better.”
Highfield, who has misplaced in the first round on 4 events, mentioned: “He played great in the first half of the second session and that took a bit of wind out of my sails.
“You do not play at the Crucible daily. I’ve solely ever performed 4 matches right here in my life and the stress will get on you and there is a huge crowd.
“It’s always great to be here. It is an amazing place to play and every time you play here you cherish it.
“But I’m pleased with myself to be right here from the place I used to be a yr in the past after I was making an attempt to get again on the tour.
“At times I thought he looked edgy and I got him on the ropes, and I let him off and he will punish you because he is that good.”
Northern Ireland’s former world primary Mark Allen is 3-5 behind towards China’s Zhang Anda, with their second session to come back on Sunday morning.
Three-time champion Mark Williams secured a 6-3 lead over 22-year-old Antoni Kowalski, the world quantity 69 and the first participant from Poland to play at the venue.
Before play began BBC presenter Hazel Irvine mentioned Virgo was “universally loved by everyone in this sport and beyond – he really was the voice of snooker”.
On Thursday there was a memorial service for Virgo in his dwelling metropolis at Sheffield Cathedral, a brief stroll from the Crucible.
“The cathedral was packed and we gave John a wonderful send-off as he was a very special man,” 1985 world champion Dennis Taylor advised BBC Radio 5 Live.
“I knew him for more than 50 years and he was a great all-round entertainer. There’s a big gap here in the Crucible this year with John not being with us.”
