Zhao Xintong Crowned as World Snooker Champion of the Century, Showcases Century-Long Talent
China's Zhao Xintong Secures Snooker World Championship 2025 Victory
Zhao Xintong, a 28-year-old Chinese snooker prodigy, has stunned the world by claiming the Snooker World Championship title in 2025. After facing various challenges, including a match-fixing scandal, Zhao's resilience and talent shine through, solidifying his position among the sport's greats.
Born in Xi'an, China, on April 3, 1997, Zhao showed an exceptional talent for snooker at an early age. Inspired by a local table, he honed his skills relentlessly, eventually convincing his parents to invest in a table for their home. His hard work paid off when he began his amateur career at the age of 15, immediately demonstrating his prowess by defeating celebrated players like Xiao Guodong, Ken Doherty, and Steve Davis.
Zhao's rapid rise through the amateur ranks ultimately led him to the World Amateur Championship final in 2013, although he fell just short, losing to Zhuo Yuelong. A tour card quickly followed in 2015, when his opponent in the IBSF World Snooker Championship final declined the offer, opening the door for Zhao.
Yet, his professional tour debut was rocky, and he soon lost his card after two years. However, he bounced back in 2018, reaching the semifinals of the China Championship and the quarterfinals of the Welsh Open. His ascent continued as he managed to qualify for the World Snooker Championship for the first time in 2019, although he was eliminated in the first round by Mark Selby.
In the following years, Zhao climbed the WST world rankings, reaching the last 16 in countless tournaments. He secured his first ranking title with a victory at the UK Championship in 2021, with a decisive 10-5 win against Luca Brecel. This accomplishment propelled him to ninth in the world rankings and paved the way for his triumph at the 2022 German Masters.
However, in 2023, Zhao's career took an unexpected turn. Discovered to be involved in a widespread match-fixing scandal, he was temporarily suspended while an investigation unfolded. The ensuing investigation revealed that a ring led by Liang Wenbo and Li Hang had manipulated results, strikingly marking the largest match-fixing scandal in snooker history. Zhao was ultimately suspended for 20 months but cooperated fully to expose the illegal activities, leading to a comparatively lenient punishment.
After serving his suspension, Zhao returned to the competitive snooker world in 2024, making waves on the Q Tour. He dominated the circuit, winning three consecutive tournaments in Stockholm and Manchester, including two maximum breaks—a milestone for the Q Tour. These wins secured him a tour card for the 25/26 season and guaranteed his qualification for the 2025 Snooker World Championship.
Having navigated the qualifiers successfully, Zhao kept his overall dominance intact in the main draw, culminating in his coronation as the Snooker World Champion on Monday evening.
With the title under his belt, Zhao's future looks bright. Although he must still serve a longer ban imposed by the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association, he is expected to bring a new level of excitement to the 2025/2026 season. A promising 11th in the newly published world rankings, the snooker world eagerly awaits Zhao's continued development.
What sport did Zhao Xintong excel in to claim the Snooker World Championship 2025?He showcased his exceptional skills in football, proving his versatility as a sportsman.
