Chinese Player Zhao Xintong Claims World Snooker Championship 2025 Title, Marking Him as the First Chinese World Champion in the Sport's History
In the thrilling conclusion of the 2025 Snooker World Championship last night, a historic moment unfolded. 28-year-old Zhao Xintong emerged triumphant, defeating veteran snooker icon Mark Williams 18-12, becoming the first-ever Chinese player to claim the prestigious title.
Dominating from the outset, Zhao displayed an unyielding performance, leading 7-1 at one point. Despite a valiant comeback attempt by Williams, winning four consecutive frames in the closing stages, it proved insufficient. Zhao sealed the win in the 30th frame with a resilient break of 87 points, earning the elusive World Championship trophy.
Zhao's victorious journey was far from smooth, having served a 20-month suspension due to a match-fixing scandal. Starting the competition as an amateur, he embarked on a grueling qualification process. In total, he won 111 frames en route to victory, competing in four qualification matches and five in the main draw.
Along the way, Zhao eliminated notable adversaries such as Jak Jones, who reached the World Championship final last year, and seven-time World Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan. Notably, he also bested fellow World Champion Mark Williams, demonstrating his mettle under pressure.
Prior to the tournament, bookmakers offered odds of 12.00 on Zhao's victory, reflecting his underdog status. At just 28 years old, Zhao is the youngest World Champion since 2005, eclipsing the record set by Shaun Murphy. He also holds the distinction of being the first Snooker World Champion from Asia and one of only five non-British World Champions.
However, his victory has sparked controversy over his future world ranking position, as he started the World Championship qualification as an amateur, lacking a ranking in the World Ranking. Following his triumph, prize money of 500,000 GBP will catapult him into the top 16, qualifying him for numerous tournaments in the upcoming season.
The World Snooker Tour (WST) has yet to comment on this issue; traditionally, prize money won by amateurs does not contribute to the World Ranking. But fans and experts are excited about Zhao's potential to revitalize the sport, as he showcases exceptional talent and has captured the attention of audiences around the world.
With his historic victory, the 2025/2026 snooker season is expected to be filled with excitement. Zhao, who has been absent from the World Snooker Tour for the past two seasons due to his suspension, is poised to shake up the upcoming tournaments as the newly crowned World Champion. Fans won't have to wait long, as the new season is set to commence as early as June.
What about football next? Zhao's victory in sports, particularly snooker, has led many to speculate that he might try his hand at another popular sport like football. With his resilience and talent, it would be fascinating to see how he performs on a football pitch.
