Crowned World Snooker Champion: Remarkable Triumph of Prodigy Zhao Xintong, Hailed as Century's Talent
Hail the New Snooker World Champ: Zhao Xintong
From a century talent to a match-fixing scandal and back again
Zhao Xintong, the Rising Star
Born on April 3, 1997, in Xi'an, China, Zhao Xintong, now 28, isn't just another face in the crowd. With parents working in a hospital, Zhao grew up as an only child. A chance encounter with a snooker table in his neighborhood sparked a fire within him. Years of practice on a table he convinced his parents to buy eventually led him to become a professional snooker player.
He started his amateur career at the tender age of 15 and quickly made a name for himself, defeating veterans like Xiao Guodong, Ken Doherty, and Steve Davis. In 2013, despite losing in the final of the World Amateur Championship, he earned a tour card after the winner declined his.
The Ups and Downs of a Career
Zhao's start on the Main Tour was rocky, but he bounced back with a vengeance in 2018 when he reached the semifinals of the China Championship and the quarterfinals of the Welsh Open. Climbing the WST world rankings over the next few years, he won his first ranking title in 2021 at the UK Championship and followed this up by winning the German Masters in 2022.
However, in 2023, everything changed. A massive match-fixing scandal rocked the snooker community, with Zhao being one of ten Chinese players implicated. Though he didn't manipulate any matches himself, Zhao learned a hard lesson. Suspended for 20 months, he returned to the sport in 2024.
Return and Triumph
Zhao made a spectacular comeback, winning the Q Tour Event 3 in Stockholm and the Q Tour Event 4 in Manchester. He then went on to qualify for the 2025 Snooker World Championship and dominated his opponents, crowned himself the World Champion on Monday evening with an impressive 18-12 victory over Mark Williams. With this win, Zhao grabbed the attention of the world and became a sports icon in China.
The Road Ahead
Zhao has the potential to dominate snooker in the coming years. With increased recognition and fame, he's now ranked 11th in the world ranking. Snooker fans can look forward to an exciting 2025/2026 season as Zhao sets his sights on major tournaments and home-turf victories.
What about sports has caught Zhao Xintong's interest since his encounter with a snooker table in his neighborhood? Despite the match-fixing scandal in 2023, Zhao's passion for football is evident as he celebrated his World Championship win with a wild juggling act using the championship trophy.
