John Higgins endured the most lopsided loss of his storied 34-year career on Saturday, falling 10-1 to China's Zhao Xintong in the semi-finals of the Tour Championship in Manchester.
The defending champion was utterly dominated by the reigning world champion, who compiled 11 breaks over 50 points—including one century—in a stunning display of precision and power. Higgins narrowly avoided a historic whitewash by claiming the tenth frame, but Zhao promptly sealed the match in the next with an 85 break to book his place in Sunday's final against world number one Judd Trump.
"I played well and I am very happy to reach the final," said 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 have been in four finals and I am enjoying every moment and trying to get better. To play Judd in a final for the first time will be a big moment for me. It will be very tough."
This defeat surpasses Higgins' previous heaviest losses, which were 13-4 to Stephen Hendry at the 2012 World Championship and 18-9 to Judd Trump in the 2019 World Final. The 50-year-old Scotsman, a four-time world champion, had never suffered such a decisive margin in a best-of-19 match.
The victory propels the 29-year-old Zhao into his sixth ranking final, maintaining a perfect record of converting all five of his previous finals—a feat matched only by snooker legends Steve Davis, Mark Williams, and Neil Robertson. Zhao is now poised to become the first player to win all three events in the Players Series in a single season, having already secured the World Grand Prix and Players Championship titles in February.
Regardless of Sunday's outcome against Trump, Zhao is guaranteed to ascend to a career-high fourth place in the world rankings, marking another milestone in his rapid rise to the sport's elite.