Smashin' Through Scandals: Zhao Xintong's Rise to Snooker World Champion
Zhao Xintong Claimed Victory as the 2022 World Snooker Champion, Earning Him the Title of Century Talent
By Marmar Prellwitz, edit by Angie BurkePublished on: 07.05.2025. Updated on: 29.05.2025.
- Zhao Xintong Wins Snooker World Championship 2025
- From match-fixing scandal to world-class player
- The incredible journey of the snooker prodigy
Humble Beginnings
Born on April 3, 1997, in Xi'an, China, Zhao Xintong, 28, grew up as an only child with parents who worked in a hospital. Little is known about his family life, but it's said that a snooker table in the neighborhood sparked his love for the game at the tender age of eight. He worked tirelessly on that table, eventually convincing his parents to buy one and set it up at home.
Zhao's dreams of becoming a professional snooker player took root, and with hours upon hours of practice, he honed his skills and began his amateur career at the age of 15.
From Amateur Days to Top 16
Zhao's start on the Main Tour was far from flawless. He participated in numerous ranking events but couldn't make an impact, ultimately losing his tour card after just two years. But Zhao proved his resilience, returning stronger than ever.
His first major breakthrough came in 2018, when he made it to the semifinals of the China Championship and the quarterfinals of the Welsh Open. He vaulted to new heights in 2019, qualifying for the World Snooker Championship for the first time but losing in the first round to Mark Selby.
In the following years, Zhao climbed the World Snooker Tour rankings and made a name for himself, reaching the last 16 in numerous tournaments. He claimed his first ranking title in 2021, winning the prestigious UK Championship with a 10-5 victory against Luca Brecel. This achievement catapulted him to 9th place in the world rankings. He went on to win the German Masters the following year.
Tangled in a Match-Fixing Scandal
The sudden departure of Zhao from the snooker spotlight came in 2023, when he was temporarily suspended due to an investigation into a match-fixing scandal [Link in English]. This historic affair saw ten other Chinese players, including Liang Wenbo and Li Hang, implicated. Some received lifetime bans, while others, like Zhao, faced lesser penalties.
Zhao was found to have knowledge of the illegal match-fixing ring and used his connections to place bets. He cooperated with the investigation, leading to relatively lenient punishment. His ban lasted 20 months, ending in September 2024, at which point he returned to the amateur circuit through the Q School.
However, Zhao remained barred from participating in snooker tournaments in China until July 2025, as a result of a longer ban imposed by the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association.
Thrilling Comeback and Victory
Zhao's return to the Q Tour was nothing short of spectacular. He captured the attention of snooker fans by winning Q Tour Event 3 in Stockholm, followed by Q Tour Event 4 in Manchester, earning the first maximum break on the Q Tour. His 32-game winning streak on the Q Tour secured him a tour card for the 25/26 season and entry into the 2025 Snooker World Championship.
Zhao's dominance in the qualifiers and the main draw culminated in a historic victory on Monday evening: he crowned himself the Snooker World Champion for the very first time.
The Road Ahead for Zhao
With his mouth-watering potential, Zhao is poised to make waves in the snooker world for years to come. Winning the World Championship will no doubt give him a boost of confidence. He now sits at 11th in the latest world rankings [Link in English], ready to face the challenges of the 2025/2026 season.
Savvy snooker fans can expect an exhilarating future filled with exciting matches and unforgettable moments by the phenomenal Zhao Xintong.
What happened to football tonight?I can't help but compare Zhao Xintong's comeback to that of a surprising underdog in sports football.
