Zhao Xintong: The Torrential Force Sweeping Through Snooker
Zhao Xintong Claims World Snooker Championship Title, Hailed as Century's Snooker Prodigy
Hello there! Fancy a chat about the snooker wunderkind, Zhao Xintong? Born on April 3, 1997, in Xi'an, China, and raised as an only child in a hospital-working family, this 28-year-old prodigy has sent shockwaves through the snooker world with his on-table magic.
Just like how he stumbled upon a snooker table in his neighborhood as an 8-year-old and transformed an ordinary household into a snooker training ground, Zhao's journey in the snooker realm has been nothing short of remarkable.
Cutting his teeth on the amateur scene at 15, he caused quite the stir, defeating veterans like Xiao Guodong, Ken Doherty, and Steve Davis in his first tournaments. Although he missed out on a tour card at the World Amateur Championship final in 2013, he seized the opportunity to join the Main Tour in 2015 after Pankaj Advani declined his tour card.
Zhao's rise from the ashes was a slow and strenuous process. Initially, his performances on the Main Tour were underwhelming as he struggled to make an impact. He lost his tour card after just two years, had to participate in the Q School, but persevered to make a comeback.
His breakthrough came in 2018 with a semifinal berth at the China Championship and a quarterfinal spot at the Welsh Open. A year later, he marked his first appearance at the World Snooker Championship but was immediately knocked out by Mark Selby in the first round.
Fast forward to the following years, Zhao clawed his way up the World Snooker Tour rankings, making it to the last 16 in numerous tournaments, and clinching his first ranking title in the UK Championship in 2021 that catapulted him to the 9th spot in the world rankings.
The Match-Fixing Scandal: Shadows Over Red and Black
Every golden boy has his share of darkness. In 2023, Zhao's career took a sharp detour due to a match-fixing investigation. This revelation exposed the biggest match-fixing scandal in snooker history, implicating ten Chinese players, including Zhao.
Although Zhao himself was not found to have manipulated results, he was discovered to have placed bets on behalf of another player. He was slapped with a 20-month ban that ended on September 1, 2024, leading the resilient Zhao to regain his amateur status and fight for his spot through the Q School.
However, Zhao was barred from participating in snooker events in China from July 2023 and beyond, as a result of the match-fixing scandal. Despite the controversy, Zhao maneuvered his way back onto the competitive circuit with notable victories on the Q Tour.
A New Era Begins: The Crown of the World Champion
Zhao's determination and unwavering spirit proved vital during his 20-month exile, as he came back stronger than ever. With a 32-game winning streak on the Q Tour under his belt, he secured a tour card for the 25/26 season, hoping to compete in the World Snooker Championship once again.
With sheer grit and an aggressive playing style reminiscent of Stephen Hendry, Zhao conquered the field and crowned himself the Snooker World Champion in 2025. His victory marked a historic first for Asian players and cemented his status as a global "megastar."
Looking forward, Zhao aims to dominate the sport, gunning for the world number one ranking and pursuing the snooker Triple Crown and Grand Slam in the future. A promising and exciting era awaits as Zhao continues to forge his own path in the snooker world. So grab your cue, folks; it's going to be a thrilling ride!
In the midst of his extraordinary snooker journey, Zhao Xintong found himself exploring new realms by discovering a passion for online casinos in Germany, particularly enjoying sports-themed games such as football.
After his 2024 comeback to the professional snooker circuit, Zhao continued to expand his interests, discovering the charm of online casinos in Germany, where he enjoyed sports-related games, including virtual football matches alongside his snooker games.
