Zhao Xintong has become the first Chinese player to win the World Snooker Championship, completing a remarkable journey from qualifier to champion with an 18-12 victory over Mark Williams in Monday’s final.
According to details, the 28-year-old made history at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield by claiming the seven frames he needed after establishing a commanding 11-6 lead during Sunday’s sessions.
Zhao is only the second Chinese player to reach the World Championship final, following in the footsteps of Ding Junhui, who lost to Mark Selby in 2016. This time, however, Zhao delivered a calm and composed performance to overcome three-time champion Williams and claim the title.
His triumph earned him £500,000 and secured his place in history as the first World Snooker Champion from Asia. “I can’t believe what I’ve achieved. It’s unbelievable,” said Zhao. “I was really nervous tonight. Mark is still one of the best and put me under immense pressure.”
A former UK Championship winner in 2021, Zhao’s path to the title has been anything but typical. He had been playing as an amateur since September after serving a 20-month suspension related to a 2023 match-fixing scandal. He admitted to assisting another player in fixing matches and betting on games, part of a wider controversy that resulted in heavy sanctions for 10 Chinese players, including lifetime bans for Liang Wenbo and Li Hang.
Forced to enter the World Championship through four qualifying rounds due to his amateur status, Zhao is set to rejoin the professional tour next season. He now joins Terry Griffiths and Shaun Murphy as only the third qualifier to win the title in the Crucible’s 48-year history.
Reflecting on the final, Williams said, “It’s been an incredible tournament for me, but Zhao is such a phenomenal potter. I’ll be too old by the time he’s dominating the sport. He’s been out for two years and still beat everyone. There’s a new superstar in snooker.”
While Zhao’s victory is remarkable, it also marks a milestone for Asian snooker, which has seen steady growth over the years. The sport enjoys massive popularity in China, with a national academy in Beijing dedicated to developing top talent.
