Zhao Xintong booked his ticket to the Crucible with a 10-8 defeat of Elliot Slessor in a high-quality match on Judgement Day.
Zhao made breaks of 134, 127 and 103, but Slessor compiled three centuries of his own and will rightly feel frustrated to have bumped into the 2021 UK Championship winner playing at the top of his game.
"I am very happy, I'm so proud of myself," Zhao told World Snooker Tour. "I just try my best to play snooker and enjoy the table time.
"Hopefully I can come back to be a top player, but I need more wins."
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Chris Wakelin will play at the Crucible for a fourth time following his comfortable 10-2 win over Martin O'Donnell, while Zhou Yuelong is back following his 10-5 triumph over Yuan Sijun.
It wasn't all plain sailing for Zhou who trailed 4-1 at one stage, before taking command with the aid of two century breaks.
Last year's losing semi-finalist David Gilbert survived a huge scare against Aaron Hill, eventually coming through a tense deciding frame.
Hill was in pole position when leading 8-5 and 9-7, but Gilbert stood tall and replied with breaks of 118 and 53 to force a decider.
A run of 63 all but saw Gilbert home, though Hill did threaten one last twist when getting the snooker he required, only for Gilbert to finish the job by potting the green into the centre pocket.
GILBERT PULLS OFF A JUDGEMENT DAY CLASSIC! 😱
— WST (@WeAreWST) April 15, 2025
From 9-7 down, he beats Aaron Hill in a final-frame decider — only Judgement Day delivers drama like this!
Commiserations, Aaron! 👏#WorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/IOld6cKew4
Gilbert said: "I was a bit nervous because of what was on the line, but I made a nice break in the decider. I just tried from 8-5.
"Aaron was much better than me and he'll be gutted. I hope he gets there one day but it was a bit of experience that got me through.
"I can try to finish the season on a high."
Zak Surety will play at the Crucible for the first time following his impressive 10-3 rout of Ricky Walden.
Surety reached the semi-finals of the World Open earlier in the season, confirming him to be a player firmly on the upgrade, and he had too many guns for Walden all day.
"I am the biggest World Championship fan," said Surety. "I listen to the draw every year and this time I'm actually in it. I I will probably be up at 5am getting nervous waiting for it."
Surety will be joined by fellow debutant Daniel Wells who bravely held off Gary Wilson to win 10-9.
Wilson rallied from 6-2 behind to draw level at 7-7, and then again at 9-9 after Wells had missed a golden opportunity to win the match in frame 18.
However, Wells held his nerve to produce a match-winning break of 52 in the decider.
Related snooker links
- World Championship: Top 16 player profiles
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- History of 147 breaks
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- O'Sullivan: One of a kind
- History of snooker's number ones
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- Crucible memories: Ronnie's finest hour
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