Zhao Xintong Crowned as World Snooker Champion, Marveled as Century's Gifted Prodigy in Billiards
Zhao Xintong Claims Snooker World Championship Title
Zhao Xintong, a 28-year-old prodigy from Xi'an, China, was crowned the Snooker World Champion 2025 after an impressive performance at the tournament held in May. This victory marks a significant comeback for the once-temporarily suspended player who was entangled in a major match-fixing scandal in 2023.
Born on April 3, 1997, Zhao spent his childhood hours engrossed in a neighboring snooker table. His unwavering passion for the game led him to persuade his parents to install a table at home, where he spent countless hours honing his skills. At the age of 15, Zhao embarked on his amateur career, leaving a trail of victories in his wake, including defeats of established players like Xiao Guodong, Ken Doherty, and Steve Davis.
A turning point in his career came in 2013 when he reached the World Amateur Championship final but narrowly lost to Zhuo Yuelong. However, his perseverance paid off two years later when he won the IBSF World Snooker Championship, earning a two-year permit to play on the professional tour.
Despite a rocky start on the Main Tour that led to losing his tour card after just two years, Zhao continued to fight his way back. His breakthrough came in 2018 when he reached the semifinals of the China Championship and made it to the quarterfinals of the Welsh Open. A year later, he qualified for the World Snooker Championship for the first time but was eliminated in the initial round.
Over the following years, Zhao climbed the WST world rankings and made it to the last 16 in numerous tournaments. In 2021, he clinched his first ranking title, the UK Championship, defeating Luca Brecel in the final, which propelled him to ninth in the world rankings. He then repeated his success at the German Masters in 2022.
In 2023, Zhao's rising career hit a hurdle when he was temporarily suspended due to match-fixing allegations. The following year, an independent commission found that Zhao did not manipulate any matches but knew about an illegal match-fixing ring and placed bets on behalf of another player. Consequently, he was suspended for 20 months, ended in September 2024.
Following his ban, Zhao made a strong comeback on the Q Tour, winning two consecutive events in Stockholm and Manchester, including recording the first maximum break on the Q Tour. These achievements earned him a tour card for the 25/26 season and qualified him for the 2025 World Snooker Championship.
After navigating the qualifiers with ease, Zhao demonstrated his dominance on the main draw, culminating in his first world championship title on Monday night. His victory has restored his reputation and opened the door for an exciting 2025/2026 season.
While Zhao has the potential to become a dominant force in snooker, he still faces restrictions, as the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association has imposed a ban on him participating in snooker tournaments in China until July 2025.
Experts and players alike have lauded Zhao as one of the greatest snooker talents of all time. His playing style, reminiscent of the young Stephen Hendry, has left spectators in awe. As Zhao steps into a new chapter of his career, fans can look forward to witnessing his exceptional talent in action.
What sports did Zhao Xintong dominate after a comeback from his suspension?He won the European-leagues' premier-league title in snooker following his comeback from the match-fixing scandal.
