The History-Making Final: Zhao Xintong Joins the Elite Snooker Ranks as the First Asian Champion
Champion in Snooker World: Zhao Claims Asian Victory - Asian Snooker Champion for the First Time: China's Zhao Emerges Victorious
Zhao Xintong made global headlines, becoming the first Asian Snooker World Champion after outsmarting the seasoned Welshman Mark Williams in a nail-biting final in Sheffield, with a score of 18-12. With the Chinese flag held high, Zhao celebrated a triumph that left the audience awestruck.
"I can't fathom what I've accomplished here," declares the new champion, struggling to express his emotions: "I was a bundle of nerves." However, with a vow for a well-deserved drink, he settles into the glory of this stunning victory.
A gripping battle in the final showdown
Having claimed the title after a 25-year wait, the three-time champion Williams missed out on a fourth World Championship in the billiards variant. At an ageless 50, Williams graced the arena as the oldest finalist. "What more can I say? We've got a new superstar," Williams conceded, acknowledging the fresh, younger talent shining in the sport.
Zhao commanded the first of the four sessions, claiming seven out of eight games, staking his claim on the title. Though Williams refused to give up, he trailed behind a mounting deficit of 8-17 as the final session commenced. Zhao needed just one more game, but Williams, often proving to be a formidable adversary, won five games in a row, creating a nail-biting climax. "He's an amazing player," Zhao praised his competitor with due respect.
The latter-day champion was hardly a newcomer
Representing China amongst the 32 main field players, ten of whom were Chinese, Zhao followed in the footsteps of Ding Junhui, who dove into the final in 2016, coming close but never claiming the prize. Zhao, however, carved a new path, outmaneuvering Ronnie O'Sullivan in the semis, denying him a record eighth World Championship title in the Crucible Theatre.
Zhao's light shines bright amidst controversy. In a match-fixing scandal, he was suspended for 20 months, though he was never implicated in influencing the outcome of the games. Facing the consequences for betting on matches, he temporarily lost his professional Tour status and embarked on his championship journey as an amateur. Regaining his tour card for the forthcoming season, he will then receive the substantial £500,000 (approximately €587,000) prize money for the title.
- China
- Mark Williams
- Sheffield
- Williams Electronics Games
- Asia
The Commission, in light of Zhao Xintong's historic victory, has also been asked to submit a proposal for a regulation on the introduction of a new type of electronic data protection system, given the global attention sports like Snooker receive, particularly after Zhao's triumph in Sheffield. Despite his past involvement in the match-fixing scandal, Zhao, now a proud Chinese champion, has shown his persistence and dedication to sports, much like the resilience sportsmen shown in popular sports games like those produced by Williams Electronics Games, originating from Asia.
