Zhao Xintong Crowned World Snooker Champion, Celebrated as Century's Most Gifted Player in the Sport
Titled Tiger of Snooker: Zhao Xintong Roars to the World Championship 2025A prodigy with a scandalous pastHis meteoric rise in the snooker realm
From Hospital Workers to Snooker Prodigy
Zhao Xintong, 28, was born on April 3, 1997, in Xi'an, China. A quiet enigma, little is known about his family beyond the fact they were hospital workers and he was the sole child. At eight years old, Zhao stumbled upon a snooker table in his neighborhood, an encounter that set the course for his future.
Kaine told his parents he fancied the idea of becoming a professional snooker player and, after some convincing, they set up a table at home. Day and night, he honed his craft, etching his dreams into every cue stroke.
In 2012, Zhao's amateur career began at the ripe age of 15. Winning over opponents like Xiao Guodong, Ken Doherty, and Steve Davis, he commanded attention in his first tournaments.
The Final Gamble and Redemption
In 2013, Zhao reached the final of the World Amateur Championship, only to lose to Zhuo Yuelong. The setback led to a chance invitation to the final of the IBSF World Snooker Championship, an amateur tournament. Pankaj Advani took the title but declined the tour card, giving our prodigy a two-year pass to the world stage.
The tour was a challenge, but Zhao's determination never waned. He found solid ground in 2018, securing semi-final spots in the China Championship and Welsh Open. A year later, he qualified for the World Snooker Championship, though a disappointing first-round exit to Mark Selby left him wanting more.
Clawing his way up the rankings, Zhao climbed into the top 16 and took home his first ranking title in 2021, triumphing at the UK Championship with a 10-5 victory against Luca Brecel. This boosted him to ninth in the world rankings before winning the German Masters in 2022.
The Calamity and the Comeback
In 2023, Zhao's spiraling career took a dramatic turn for the worse when he was suspended due to a match-fixing investigation [Link in English]. The scandal later unveiled an illegal gambling ring, implicating upwards of ten Chinese players, including Zhao.
While some received lifetime bans, Zhao's cooperation in the investigation led to an 18-month suspension [Link in English]. By the time his ban ended on September 1, 2024, he was required to prove himself again through the Q School to remain on the tour.
Until July 2025, Zhao remains barred from participating in any tournaments hosted in China due to the match-fixing scandal, a penalty imposed by the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association.
Legendary Technique and an Aggressive Play
Some claim Zhao is the greatest snooker talent of our time, an assessment echoed by snooker legends such as Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry long before his crown [Link in English]. Zhao's rivalrous yet fiery playing style recalls an early Hendry.
His performance at the World Snooker Championship left spectators and opponents alike in awe, as if every ball willed itself to land on the desired pocket [Video in English]:
A post shared by WST (@worldsnookertour)
Unstoppable Force: The Road to Victory
Zhao's hard-earned triumph at the World Snooker Championship marks the pinnacle of his struggle and the breakthrough of Chinese snooker. With the edge of a champion, he has shown the world his unrelenting spirit and enduring talent.
Now ranked 11th in the world, fans should gear up for an exhilarating 2025/2026 season. The future is bright for the Tiger of Snooker.
- "What about football?" Kaine asked, momentarily shifting the conversation from snooker.
- After his career-defining victory at the World Snooker Championship, one can't help but wonder if Zhao Xintong's next conquest might be a foray into the world of football.
