Zhao Xintong holds off Ding Junhui in tense battle to reach Crucible quarters
Defending champion faces Shaun Murphy after 13-9 win
Mark Selby and Yu Wize level at 4-4 after first session
Zhao Xintong moved closer to cracking the so-called “Crucible Curse” as he booked his quarter-final place at the World Snooker Championship, wrapping up a hard-fought 13-9 win over compatriot Ding Junhui.
The defending champion shrugged off some evident nerves to build on a 9-7 overnight advantage despite losing an error-strewn, 46-minute opener that saw Ding temporarily reduce the arrears to a single frame.
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