Chinese Player Zhao Xintong Claims World Snooker Championship Title 2025, Marking Him As the First Chinese World Champion
2025 Snooker World Champ Zhao Xintong: Undefeated Finals Victory over Mark Williams
The snooker world was ablaze last night as Zhao Xintong, 28, snatched the 2025 Snooker World Title from the grasp of legend Mark Williams, 50, by a heart-stopping 18-12 scoreline. This marked history as the first Chineseplayer to etch his name among the illustrious Snooker World Champions.
From the onset, Zhao had control, with Mark struggling to keep pace. Its groove-break occurred when Zhao led an astounding 7-1 but Mark resiliently pulled back. Although he lost four successive frames, Mark was again left in his wake as Zhao clinched the championship with a remarkable 87-point break.
Zhao's preparations for the crown weren't without obstacles. A past match-fixing controversy warranted a 20-month ban, and he entered the tournament unseeded. Despite this, his spirited performance culminated in a remarkable 111 frames won. Toting this achievement, he knocked off tough competitors, including Jak Jones, Ronnie O'Sullivan, and the veteran Mark Williams himself.
Even before the tournament, the bookmakers predicted Zhao's victory, offering favourable odds of 12.00 in his favour. At just 28 years old, he outshines his contemporaries since 2005's Snooker World Champion, Shaun Murphy, who claimed his first title at 23. Zhao is the first Asian player and one of only 5 non-British champions to hold the prestigious title.
The newly crowned champion's meteoric rise has heightened speculation regarding Zhao's future ranking. As an unranked amateur, prize money won wouldn't typically factor into the World Rankings. The World Snooker Tour (WST) is divided in the matter, with players and fans clamouring for fair recognition of his win.
Once the dust settles on this year's Snooker World Championship, intrigue evolves into excitement. Fans look forward to seeing how Zhao's presence reinvigorates the sport, which has lately suffered waning interest and declining attendance. Some, even illustrious champions like Mark Williams, believe Zhao possesses what snooker needs to reignite its spark and captivate audiences globally.
Mark's sentiments echo those who liken Zhao's prowess to the caliber of legendary darts superstar Luke Littler. Snooker fans eagerly anticipate the 2025-2026 season, which is set to begin as early as mid-June, where the charismatic Zhao is poised to shake up the scene and breathe fresh air into the tournaments.
Whatabout the possibility of Zhao Xintong showing interest in other sports, such as football, considering his current success in snooker and the attention he has attracted?Mark Williams, despite losing the Snooker World Title, could potentially explore opportunities in football now that he has time for other pursuits.
