Could the snooker sport see a significant surge in popularity within China following Zhao Xintong's groundbreaking victory?
Rewritten Article:
Zhao Xintong's sensational World Championship win might have sparked hopes for a snooker boom in China, but sports business experts caution that this could be nothing more than hot air.
With his dazzling victory at the Crucible on Monday, Zhao became the first Asian champion, sending ripples through the snooker world. But China's differing priorities and Zhao's questionable past could dampen the sport's prospects, according to Professor Simon Chadwick.
"If even a handful of Chinese folks start rooting for Zhao Xintong, the numbers might lead people to proclaim China as the next snooker-obsessed nation," Chadwick told City AM. However, the reality paints a different picture as only a minority of Chinese people engage with snooker. Staging events in Europe when most Chinese are catching Z's doesn't help either.
"China remains a basketball-loving nation which values mass participation sports like running and dancing, not snooker," says Chadwick, who's a Professor of Eurasian Sport Industry at Emlyon Business School in France.
The Chinese government has a huge say in which sports their populace adopts, and Zhao's brush with scandal may make the rulers wary of promoting him and snooker.
"The state wields significant power in deciding which sports are promoted and which are sidelined," added Chadwick.
Though Zhao's triumph will boost China's prestige, the government will remain cautious about the sport's development, especially in light of Zhao's previous match-fixing controversy. Following his international ban, officials in Beijing will strive to keep the sport away from gambling and governance issues.
Zhao Xintong: A Potential Game-Changer?
Despite the hurdles, Zhao's win could open doors for snooker in China. With the country's 15th five-year communist plan about to launch, there might be opportunities to host more snooker events in China. But it appears unlikely that the sport will become a primary focus.
"Zhao Xintong's talent and win are indisputable, but for now, the media frenzy surrounding his victory will be more hype than substance," says Chadwick.
Zhao, 28, created history by becoming the first amateur to win the World Snooker Championship. However, this came after he lost his professional status due to his ban for match-fixing. Regaining his tour card and rejoining the ranks, Zhao is expected to make waves, with beaten finalist Mark Williams tipping him to lead the charge for a new generation of Chinese players.
"He's been out of action for two years and still hammered everyone. He's the fresh new superstar of the game," said Williams. "It could be a massive deal for snooker. It could kickstart a flood of interest. With the rise of Chinese players like Luke Littler in darts, this is exactly what snooker needed."
Barry Hearn, president of Matchroom Sport which runs the pro circuit, also sees Zhao as the 'leader of the next batch of Chinese players'. "The message from the rest of the world is clear: you'd better watch out because China is set to become even more dominant in snooker," Hearn commented.
- Despite Professor Simon Chadwick's warnings of hot air, Zhao Xintong's win in snooker might spark interest in China.
- Even though Zhao Xintong's victory has created a media frenzy, for now, it seems more like hype than substantial change in China's sports preferences.
- Zhao Xintong, the first Asian champion in snooker, is anticipated to lead a new generation of Chinese players, according to Barry Hearn of Matchroom Sport.
- Zhao Xintong's impressive win in football might not necessarily translate into a snooker boom in China due to China's passion for mass participation sports like basketball and the government's role in directing sports promotion.
