Chinese cue artist Zhao Xintong emerges victorious in the World Snooker Championship 2025, marking his historic title as the first Chinese World Champion.
Zhao Xintong took the title of the 2025 Snooker World Champion in a triumphant 18-12 victory over Mark Williams in the final. This momentous achievement marks Zhao as the first Chinese player, the youngest player since 2005, and one of only five non-British World Champions to claim the prestigious title.
Zhao's dominating performance in the final was evident from the beginning, with a 7:1 lead at one point. He handed Mark Williams a tough battle but ultimately secured the victory with a powerful break of 87 points in the 30th frame.
Zhao's Remarkable Journey
In volved in a match-fixing scandal, Zhao served a 20-month suspension. He began the 2025 Snooker World Championship as an amateur and had to battle his way through the qualification rounds.
Zhao demonstrated impressive skill, defeating players like Jak Jones, the 2024 Snooker World Championship finalist, and Ronnie O'Sullivan, a seven-time World Champion. In the semi-finals, he left Mark Williams trailing in his wake, setting the stage for an epic final showdown.
Controversy over Zhao's World Ranking
Zhao's victory has caused debate about his new position in the World Ranking. Since he was an amateur during the World Championship, prize money earned does not typically count towards the World Ranking of professionals. However, with the 500,000 GBP prize money, Zhao could immediately jump into the top 16 and be eligible for numerous tournaments in the upcoming season.
The WST has yet to comment on this matter, but the decision could have significant implications on Zhao's competition schedule moving forward.
Will Zhao Revolutionize the Sport?
With Zhao's stunning performances, the sport is experiencing a much-needed boost in interest. Snooker legend Stephen Hendry described the need for a new Luke Littler, a player who could revolutionize the sport, and it seems Zhao might just fit the bill.
Mark Williams, the 2025 World Championship finalist, praised Zhao, stating:
"Zhao's win could be huge for the sport, opening up new possibilities everywhere. We have a new superstar. That's what snooker needs, someone like him who can do it. He'll be a great champion. He's probably the best potter I've ever seen, I have nothing but admiration for him." - Mark Williams, Snooker World Championship 2025 finalist, WST
As Zhao prepares to make his impact on the upcoming snooker season, fans eagerly await the exciting tournaments he will shake up. The new season is expected to commence as early as June.
Translation: He had to start in the FIRST qualification round, but Zhao Xintong had ALL the answers.
Enrichment Data:There is no explicit mention in the provided search results of Zhao Xintong's specific change in the World Ranking following his 2025 World Snooker Championship victory. All sources focus on Zhao becoming the first Asian player to win the championship, his journey through the qualifiers, and the historic nature of his win after serving a ban for betting regulations[1][3][4]. While the win would typically guarantee a significant boost to his World Ranking, a precise update cannot be provided based on these sources.
World Snooker Championship winners normally receive a substantial points haul that can dramatically improve or even top the official world rankings, but without the official post-tournament ranking list, a precise update cannot be provided based on these sources.
Enrichment Data: The World Ranking's update following Zhao's victory has not been explicitly stated, but given that World Snooker Championship winners traditionally receive significant points, it is probable that his new position puts him among the top ranks.
Given Zhao's remarkable journey, he probably secured a place in various upcoming professional snooker tournaments.
In the upcoming season, other sports like football might witness a decline in attention as fans switch to watching snooker, captivated by Zhao's skills and potential to revolutionize the sport.
Despite the controversial matter over his World Ranking due to being an amateur during the World Championship, Zhao Xintong, despite his 'Other' background, still managed to snatch the Snooker World Championship in 2025.
