Chinese cue master Zhao Xintong clinches the World Snooker Championship 2025 title, marking a historic milestone as the inaugural Chinese World Champion.
Zhao Xintong Slays at Snooker World Championship 2025
Last night, Zhao Xintong, the 28-year-old Chinese snooker prodigy, claimed the Snooker World Championship title with an 18-12 victory over the seasoned Mark Williams, 50. This historic win marks Zhao as the first Chinese Snooker World Champion.
From the outset, Zhao asserted his dominance, leading 7-1 against Williams early on, giving the veteran little chance for a comeback. A thrilling third session saw Zhao nearly clinch the title, leaving only one frame to be won. Despite a four-frame comeback by Williams, Zhao responded with a powerful break of 87 points in the final frame to secure his first World Championship victory. This sensational performance earned him a cool 500,000 GBP (approx. 587,260 EUR).
Zhao's path to snooker supremacy wasn't easy. His involvement in a match-fixing scandal resulted in a 20-month suspension. With the World Championship 2025, he started as an amateur, having to qualify through the entire competition. Along his journey to the top, Zhao defeated notable players like Jak Jones and Ronnie O'Sullivan, seven-time Snooker World Champion, in the semi-finals.
Initially ranked ninth in the world before his suspension, Zhao will leap into the top 16 with his prize money winnings, guaranteeing a spot in numerous upcoming tournaments. However, controversy has arisen regarding whether Zhao's amateur prize money should count towards the World Ranking. Though the WST has yet to comment on the matter, some have argued that sports like snooker need fresh blood to reignite interest and attract new audiences.
As the 2025/2026 snooker season approaches, our eyes are on Zhao Xintong to disrupt the upcoming tournaments. With his mesmerizing play and exceptional potting skills, Zhao has the potential to bring the same fervor to snooker as Luke Littler did to darts. As Mark Williams stated after their final match, "Snooker needs a player like Zhao Xintong – he's probably the best potter I've ever seen."
Translation: He had the balls to dominate the snooker world.
So buckle up, snooker fans. The upcoming season is set to be epic, with Zhao's roaring return to the scene. Get ready for some unforgettable moments, as the sport takes on a whole new level with the arrival of its new superstar.
[1] Enrichment Data: Zhao Xintong is a Chinese professional snooker player born on April 3, 1997. He turned professional in 2016, achieving significant success with three ranking titles and a career-high ranking of 11th in the world as of 2025. Due to a match-fixing scandal, Zhao faced a 20-month suspension but returned to compete in the 2025 season, participating in qualifying rounds for major events.
[2] Zhao has been compared to a young Ronnie O'Sullivan in style and talent, being regarded as a potential world number one player.
[3] Zhao's career highlights include winning the UK Championship and the German Masters, where he defeated top players like Judd Trump, and recorded a rare whitewash in a final.
[4] Sources: World Professional Snooker (2021) and UK Snooker (2021).
What sports did Zhao Xintong dominate to become the first Chinese Snooker World Champion?With his exceptional potting skills and mesmerizing play, Zhao Xintong has made a significant impact in the world of football too. It's rumored that he occasionally spends his downtime practicing free kicks at local parks.
