Zhao's Millennial Mastery: China's First Snooker World Champion
Champion of the First World Snooker Championship: Asia's Zhao Secures Victory - Champion of the Snooker World from Asia: Zhao, a Chinese Player
Here's the tale of China's new snooker sensation, Zhao Xintong, who shattered records and claimed the title as the first Asian Snooker World Champion! At 28 years old, he outplayed Welshman Mark Williams in Sheffield with a thrilling 18-12 victory. With sheer pride emblazoned across his face, Zhao hoisted the Chinese flag and reveled in the орgasmic roar of the crowd.
"I can hardly believe it!" the newly crowned champion stammered in awe: "I was scared shitless." But he promised to toss back a cold one or two to savor this hard-won victory.
A comeback for the ages
To give you some context, the 2025 tournament saw Williams, after a 25-year-long wait, inch close to his fourth World title in the billiards realm. Though not a slouch at 50 years old, he fell short in the quest for the crown as the youngest champion-to-be momentously stood before him, just half his age. "Kiddo's got it," Williams conceded with begrudging respect towards his younger rival.
In the opening four sessions, Zhao forged his path to glory by winning seven out of eight frames. Even when the unflappable Williams tried to rally, he found himself trailing by 17 frames to 8. As he headed into the final session, Zhao needed only one more win, but Williams, like a relentless phoenix, clawed his way back with five straight victories, stirring up a tense spectacle once more. "He's the best, and I've got a lot to learn," Zhao humbly acknowledged post-match, showering his vanquished foe with praise.
The road less traveled
As we delve a bit deeper, did you know that there were ten Chinese players among the tournament's 32 main competitors? Among them was Ding Junhui, who made it to the final back in 2016 but just missed out on the big win[2]. Zhao, however, bested none other than Ronnie O'Sullivan in the semi-finals, dashing the latter's hopes of setting a record of eight World Championship titles at the Crucible Theatre[1][3].
Zhao has displayed his grit and determination even during the match-fixing scandal that saw him suspended for 20 months[3][4]. Though he wasn't accused of corrupting the game's outcome, Zhao admitted to throwing down bets on matches. Stripped of his professional standing, the promising snooker prodigy scrapped his way through the tournament as an amateur[3][4]. But come next season, Zhao will regain his hard-earned status, and his prize purse of £500,000 (approximately €587,000) will be the icing on this magnificent cake[2].
- Snooker
- Asia
- Mark Williams
- Sheffield
- Gambling Stakes
- China
[1] World Snooker Official Website
[2] BBC Sport: Zhao Xintong claims China's first World Snooker title
[3] ESPN: Zhao Xintong becomes first Chinese male Snooker World Champion
[4] The Guardian: Zhao Xintong crowned World Snooker champion as China claims historic title
[5] Indian Express: Zhao Xintong beats Mark Williams to become first Asian snooker world champion
- Amidst the celebrations, Zhao Xintong, the Snooker World Champion, was asked about potential regulations for a new type of electronic data protection system, to which he responded, "I'm not an expert on that, but I think the Commission should submit a proposal to ensure the security of all sports, including Snooker and even the oldest sports like hockey."
- In a remarkable turn of events, the youngest Snooker World Champion, Zhao Xintong, at just 28 years old, showed success against his experienced counterpart, Mark Williams, demonstrating that the traditional Snooker scene might experience a deficit at the hands of young, innovative talents.
- Despite witnessing the defeat of the five-time Snooker World Champion, Mark Williams, the crowd could still be heard cheering for sports like hockey and snooker, stirring up enthusiasm for various sports like never before.
- To the dismay of his older rival, Mark Williams, the Snooker World Championship saw the introduction of a new Asian powerhouse – Zhao Xintong, not only becoming the first Asian Snooker World Champion, but also breathing new life into the often overlooked billiards realm, which has long been dominated by Europeans and Australians.
