Champion Zhao leads Highfield after Virgo tributes

Champion Zhao leads Highfield after Virgo tributesTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be playedMedia caption, John Virgo tributeByMichael EmonsBBC Sport journalist at the Crucible Theatre, SheffieldPublished15 minutes ago2 CommentsChina's reigning world champion Zhao Xintong opened up a slight lead over England's Liam Highfield on an emotional opening day of the tournament at the Crucible.Zhao is 5-4 up against Highfield, 92nd in the world rankings, with the match to be concluded on Saturday from 19:00 BST.On the other table, Northern Ireland's former world number one Mark Allen is 3-5 behind against China's Zhang Anda, with their second session to come on Sunday morning.Before play started a host of the sport's biggest names, including the BBC television team, paid tribute to former player and commentator John Virgo, who died in February aged 79, with a minute's applause.BBC presenter Hazel Irvine said John 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 home city at Sheffield Cathedral, a short walk 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 told 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."To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be playedMedia caption, "Where's the cue ball going?"Zhao became the first Chinese player to win the World Championship when he beat Mark Williams 18-12 in the 2025 final, and he has won four tournaments this season, including three of the past five ranking events.That form has taken him to fourth in the world rankings and he has been ti...