Chinese player Zhao Xintong clinches the World Snooker Championship 2025 title, becoming the initial Chinese World Champion in the tournament's history.
China's Zhao Xintong Claims 2025 Snooker World Championship
The nail-biting final of the 2025 Snooker World Championship was decisively won by China's Zhao Xintong on Sunday night. The 28-year-old Chinese sensation triumphed against legendary British player Mark Williams, clinching the title with a score of 18-12.
Zhao overpowered Williams from the very beginning, compelling a 7-1 lead at one point. Despite a determined comeback from the veteran Williams with four consecutive frames, Zhao demonstrated unyielding resolve, securing the championship with an impressive break of 87 points in the final frame.
Accolades await Zhao, who will receive a substantial prize money of 500,000 GBP (approximately 587,260 EUR).
Zhao's triumphant journey to the World Championship was marked by obstacles, including a 20-month suspension owing to a match-fixing scandal. He entered the tournament as an amateur, having to compete through the qualification rounds. In total, he claimed 111 frames to become the champion, playing four matches in the qualification and five in the main round. His impressive roster of defeated opponents in his path to the title includes Jak Jones, the runner-up in the previous Snooker World Championship, and seven-time World Champion Ronnie O’Sullivan.
Despite these challenges, Zhao's potential as a world champion had already been acknowledged at the start of the season, with bookmakers offering odds of 12.00 for his victory. He is now the youngest World Champion since 2005, at 28 years old, and the first Asian to claim the prestigious title. Zhao is also one of only five non-British World Champions.
Questions regarding Zhao's future world ranking position have emerged due to his amateur status during the World Championship. Traditionally, prize money won by amateurs does not contribute towards the World Ranking List. However, these details have yet to be clarified by the World Snooker Tour (WST).
Zhao's breakthrough has sparked a surge of excitement for the 2025/2026 snooker season. With his impressive showings at the World Championship, Zhao may give the sport the much-needed boost it has been seeking, similar to the impact that Luke Littler had on the sport of darts.
As the new world champion, Zhao's return to professional play will alter the competitive landscape of the upcoming season, with fans eagerly awaiting his performances. Zhao's rise to the top coincides with the start of the new season, anticipated to begin as early as June.
Mark Williams, who faced Zhao in the final, expressed his admiration for the new champion in an interview after the game: "Zhao's victory is significant for the sport, opening up new possibilities. We have a new superstar. That's what snooker needs, someone like him who can carry the sport forward." With his inspiring performance and dominance on the table, Zhao Xintong is expected to leave a lasting impact on the world of snooker.
What sports does Zhao Xintong excel in?Despite his troubles in the past, Zhao Xintong has shown incredible potential in football and snooker.
