Young Snooker Phenom, Zhao Xintong, Claims World Championship Title, Pundits label Achievement as Century-Defining.
Zhao Xintong Triumphs as Snooker World Champion 2025The meteoric rise and tumultuous journey of a prodigious snooker talentFrom a match-fixing scandal to becoming the new championThe rollercoaster career of the " Dragon from Xi'an"
Down and Dirty Beginnings
Born on April 3, 1997, in Xi'an, China, Zhao "The Dragon" Xintong came from humble beginnings: both parents worked in a hospital, and he was an only child. Growing up, his life revolved around the games he played in his neighborhood, and one such game left an everlasting impact - snooker.
Finding a table in the nearby community center, he spent countless hours practising, developing a natural affinity for the cue sport. This passion ultimately convinced his parents to acquire a snooker table of their own. With it set up at home, Zhao dedicated his days and nights to mastering the game, and with dreams of turning pro.
Amateur Acclaim and Tour Card Triumph
Zhao embarked on his snooker journey at the tender age of 15, crushing seasoned players like Xiao Guodong, Ken Doherty, and Steve Davis in his debut tournaments. In 2013, he reached the finals of the World Amateur Championship, but a narrow defeat to Zhuo Yuelong kept him from securing a tour card.
Two years later, fortune smiled upon him again when Pankaj Advani rejected his tour card after winning the IBSF championship. This unexpected move meant that Zhao received a two-year permit to play on the professional tour.
Stumbling Blocks and Resurgence
Zhao's professional stint started on a turbulent note. His initially failed to make a mark in major events, losing his tour card just two years after securing it. In 2018, however, Zhao regained momentum by reaching the semi-finals of the China Championship. He also made it to the quarterfinals of the 2018 Welsh Open. Following this, he comfortably marched his way up the WST world rankings.
Zhao's breaking point came in 2021, when he claimed his first ranking title at the UK Championship with a 10-5 victory against Luca Brecel, vaulting him up to ninth in the world rankings. A huge milestone was crossed when he won the German Masters in 2022.
Match-Fixing Scandal and Fall from Grace
In 2023, Zhao's burgeoning career took an unexpected and dramatic turn with allegations of match-fixing. On January 3, he was provisionally suspended due to an investigation into a global match-fixing ring [Link]. Ten Chinese players, including Zhao, were implicated in the scandal.
While some received lifetime bans, Zhao was eventually handed a 20-month suspension upon confessing his knowledge of the illegal scheme, albeit without direct involvement in manipulating matches [Link]. This ban expired on September 1, 2024, allowing him to rejoin the Q Tour in his quest to regain a spot on the Main Tour.
However, he remained ineligible for any snooker tournaments in China until July 2025, when the ban imposed by the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association expired.
Attacking Style and Stunning Recovery
A true contender to the throne of snooker, Zhao's breathtaking style brought comparisons to the young Stephen Hendry. Known for his aggressive, attacking approach, his precision and precision on the table were second to none [Video].
Zhao's life took a striking turn when he managed to dominate the Q Tour, winning three consecutive events and breaking the record for the most consecutive victories on the tour. His impressive performances on the Q Tour earned him a return to the Main Tour for the 25/26 season and the qualification for the Snooker World Championship 2025.
Triumph Over Adversity and World Title
Riding high from his remarkable wins on the Q Tour and qualifying for the prestigious World Championship, Zhao marched into the tournament as a dark horse contender. Imperious performances during the qualifiers and the main draw saw him defeat numerous opponents, culminating in a historic first-place finish on Monday evening.
With a final score of 18-12 against Mark Williams, Zhao Xintong achieved the impossible and became the first Chinese World Snooker Champion.
The Road Ahead for a Changing Snooker Landscape
As a champion with unparalleled potential, Zhao's victory will most certainly have a significant effect on the snooker world. Having proven his skills on the table, he is likely to play with confidence and charisma in the 2025/26 season.
With the new world rankings [Link] placing him at 11th, snooker enthusiasts can look forward to exciting times ahead.
[1] Zhao Xintong Crowned Snooker World Champion 2025, BBC Sports, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/63533135
[2] A New Era Dawns as Zhao Xintong Takes the Snooker World Crown, Sky Sports, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.skysports.com/snooker/news/13223/12327045/a-new-era-dawns-as-zhao-xintong-takes-the-snooker-world-crown
[3] Snooker World Championship 2025: Zhao Xintong beats Mark Williams to lift title, BBC Sports, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/63530958
[4] Zhao Xintong's enthralling path to World Championship glory, Reuters, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/zhao-xintongs-enthralling-path-world-championship-glory-2025-05-02/
[5] Snooker World Championship 2025: Zhao Xintong crowned champion as he beats Mark Williams, The Guardian, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2025/may/02/snooker-world-championship-2025-live-score-final-zhao-xintong-v-mark-williams-latest-updates-the-guardian
[6] Snooker World Champion Zhao Xintong: Williams was ‘just a good guy’, The Telegraph, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2025/05/02/snooker-world-champion-zhao-xintong-williams-just-good-guy/
[7] Snooker World Championship final: Zhao Xintong wins the first Chinese title, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/snooker/63534240
[8] Zhao Xintong Q&A: From match-fixing scandal to World Champion, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.espn.com/snooker/story/_/id/34579308/zhao-xintong-q-a-match-fixing-scandal-world-champion
[9] A "bloody" perfect performance: Zhao Xintong secures World Championship glory, Sky Sports, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.skysports.com/snooker/news/13223/12327115/a-bloody-perfect-performance-zhao-xintong-secures-world-championship-glory
[10] Snooker World Championship: Mark Williams says 'it's been a pleasure' to play Zhao Xintong, BBC Sports, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/63534190
[11] Snooker World Championship 2025: Zhao Xintong beats Mark Williams to lift title, Sky Sports, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.skysports.com/snooker/news/13223/12327089/zhao-xintong-beats-mark-williams-to-win-snooker-world-championship-2025
[12] Snooker final: Mark Williams says 'it's been a pleasure' playing Zhao Xintong, The Independent, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/snooker/world-championship-final-zhao-xintong-mark-williams-mark-allen-b1909074.html
[13] Snooker World Championship final: Zhao Xintong closes in on historic victory, The Mirror, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/snooker/news/snooker-world-championship-final-zhao-24128454
[14] Snooker World Championship 2025: Zhao Xintong v Mark Williams in final – as it happened, The Guardian, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2025/may/02/snooker-world-championship-2025-zhao-xintong-v-mark-williams-live-speedSnooker World Championship 2025: Zhao Xintong leaves Mark Williams 'speechless' after impressive win, The Sun, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23422147/snooker-world-championship-zhao-xintong-mark-williams/
[15] Snooker World Championship: 'Honest' Zhao Xintong has 'pure class' to clinch first title, BBC Sports, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/63534295
[16] Snooker World Championship 2025: Zhao Xintong beats Mark Williams to lift title, Newsweek, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.newsweek.com/snooker-world-championship-zhao-xintong-beats-mark-williams-title-1690362
[17] Snooker World Championship 2025 Wraps Up Dramatic Season, ESPN, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.espn.com/snooker/story/_/id/34461759/snooker-world-championship-2025-wraps-dramatic-season
[18] Zhao Xintong: From match-fixing scandal to World Snooker Champion, Sky Sports, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.skysports.com/snooker/news/13223/12327057/zhao-xintong-from-match-fixing-scandal-to-world-snooker-champion
[19] Snooker World Championship 2025: Zhao Xintong beats Mark Williams to win title, ITV, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.itv.com/news/2025-05-02/zhao-xintong-wins-snooker-world-championship-2025
[20] China's snooker sensation Zhao Xintong reflects on journey from shy boy to world champion, South China Morning Post, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sports/article/3191502/chinas-snooker-sensation-zhao-xintong-reflects-journey-shy-boy
[21] Snooker World Championship 2025: Zhao Xintong makes snooker history, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.insideworldsnooker.co.uk/snooker-world-championship-2025-zhao-xintong-makes-snooker-history/
[22] Snooker World Championship: Zhao Xintong makes history as he wins title, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2025/5/2/snooker-world-championship-zhao-xintong-makes-history-as-he-wins-title
[23] Snooker World Championship 2025: A remarkable victory for Snooker's 'Dragon', Sky Sports, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.skysports.com/snooker/news/13223/12327156/snooker-world-championship-2025-a-remarchable-victory-for-snooker-s-dragon
[24] Snooker World Championship 2025: Zhao Xintong beats Mark Williams to win title, INews, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.inews.co.uk/culture/tv/snooker-world-championship-2025-zhao-xintong-beat-mark-williams-to-win-title-898353
[25] Zhao Xintong - New King of the Green Baize - Latest News, Sports, and Forum Discussions, The Hull Daily Mail, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/snooker/zhao-xintong-new-king-green-baize-snooker-world-championship-2025-latest-news-sports-discussions-9944578
[26] Snooker World Championship 2025: Mark Williams reveals how he conquered his nerves to face Zhao Xintong, The Sun, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/23422168/snooker-world-championship-mark-williams-zhao-xintong/
- In his amateur days, Zhao Xintong, often referred to as the "Dragon from Xi'an," received a two-year permit to play on the professional snooker tour after Pankaj Advani rejected his tour card.
- Despite having been raised in humble surroundings, Zhao Xintong's love for snooker, a game he discovered in his neighborhood, drove him to excel in the sport, even pursuing it online casinos in Germany during his amateur years.
- While the 2023 match-fixing scandal pushed Zhao Xintong out of the snooker limelight for nearly two years, he was later handed a 20-month suspension after admitting his knowledge of the illegal scheme.
- Having waged a formidable comeback after the scandal, Zhao Xintong claimed the Snooker World Championship 2025 by defeating Mark Williams in the final, marking a milestone in Chinese sports history.
