Zhao Xintong Crowned as World Snooker Champion and Century's Most Exceptional Skill Prodigy
Lock Stock and Snooker Smash: Zhao Xintong's Meteoric Rise and Fall... and Rise Again!
By Bookem Danno (a pseudonym)Edited by Disciple DohertyPublished on: 07.05.2025. Updated on: 19.06.2025.
- Zhao Xintong Claims Snooker Crown in Spectacular Comeback
- The one-time prodigy went down in flames, but now reignites as a fucking legend
- Here's the scoop on the new champ
Bloody Beginnings
Born on April 3, 1997, in Xi'an, China, Zhao Xintong, 28, was raised as an only child with parents who worked in a hospital. Little is known about his family life, but one thing's for sure—the kid had dominance in his genes.
At the tender age of eight, he stumbled upon a snooker table in his neighborhood. Soon enough, he spent every waking moment honing his skills on that table. Ultimately, he convinced his parents to set up a table at home, and the rest, as they say, is fucking history.
His raw talent didn't escape notice, and he began his amateur career at 15. Crushing opponents like Xiao Guodong, Ken Doherty, and Steve Davis, he made a name for himself in no time.
In 2013, he reached the World Amateur Championship final, where he faced off against Zhuo Yuelong. Though he lost, it earned him a two-year permit to play on the professional tour.
On Top of the World
Zhao's start on the Main Tour was shaky, and he lost his tour card after just two years. But not one to back down, he fought his way back onto the tour through the Q School.
His major breakthrough came in 2018 at the China Championship, where he reached the semifinals. Following that, he qualified for the World Snooker Championship for the first time in 2019 but lost in the first round to Mark Selby.
In the ensuing years, Zhao climbed the World Snooker Tour rankings, making it to the last 16 in many tournaments. He claimed his first ranking title in 2021, winning the UK Championship with a 10-5 victory over Luca Brecel. This catapulted him up to ninth in the world rankings and set the stage for his most significant victory.
The Dark Underbelly
In 2023, Zhao's shining career took a dark turn. The media went wild when he was temporarily suspended due to a match-fixing investigation. History would remember it as the biggest match-fixing scandal in snooker history.
Liang Wenbo and Li Hang were accused of running an illegal match-fixing ring and manipulating results. Ten Chinese players were implicated, including Zhao Xintong. While some received lifetime bans, Zhao was suspended for 20 months.
An independent commission found that Zhao himself didn't manipulate any matches. However, he did know about the fixing ring and placed bets on behalf of another player, which led to a relatively lenient punishment.
His ban ended on September 1, 2024. Afterwards, he had to qualify again as an amateur through the Q School. Notably, he wasn't allowed to participate in snooker tournaments in China until July 2025.
The Phoenix Rises
After his ban, Zhao made a splash on the Q Tour. In October 2024, he won the Q Tour Event 3 in Stockholm, playing a maximum break—the first player to do so on the Q Tour. He then went on to win the Q Tour Event 4 in Manchester, yet again playing a maximum break.
In total, he won 32 consecutive games on the Q Tour, earning a tour card for the 25/26 season and a spot at the Snooker World Championship 2025.
After navigating the qualifiers and taking down top players, including Ronnie O'Sullivan, he claimed the Snooker World Championship for the first time on Monday evening.
The Future's So Bright, You Gotta Wear Shades
The snooker world can now expect an entertaining 2025/2026 season with Zhao Xintong in the mix. With his potential to dominate the sport, it's no wonder that legendary players like Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry were convinced he could become world champion.
You don't need to be a fucking fortune teller to know that Zhao has what it takes to take over the snooker world. It's going to be a fucking wild ride, so grab your drinks and settle in for the show!
"What about his love for sports, especially football? It's intriguing to know if Xintong's passion for snooker is matched by any interest in football, considering his native country's immense love for the sport."
"Although football may not have been his primary focus, Xintong's meteoric rise and fall—and rise again—in the snooker world share many similarities with the dramatic ups and downs often seen in professional football careers."
