Zhao Xintong Earns World Snooker Title, Hailed as Century's Illustrious Snooker Prodigy
Xintong Zhao Pockets the Snooker World Championship 2025A prodigy with an explosive comebackA dark phase marred his career in 2023, but he's back and better than everHere's the astonishing tale of the new champ
Childhood and Amateur Days
Born on April 3, 1997, in Xi'an, China, Xintong Zhao, 28, grew up in a hospital-working family as an only child. A run-down snooker table in his neighborhood sparked his passion for the game. Persuading his parents to install a snooker table at home, little Zhao immersed himself in hours of practice daily, eventually declaring his desire to become a professional snooker player.
His ambition propelled him onto the amateur circuit at 15 in 2012. Zhao lit up the championships, defeating veterans like Xiao Guodong, Ken Doherty, and Steve Davis. He reached the World Amateur Championship final in 2013, though he narrowly missed out on a tour card against Zhuo Yuelong. Two years later, he triumphed at the IBSF World Snooker Championship, securing himself a two-year permit to be a part of the Main Tour.
Early Struggles and Comeback
Zhao's journey on the Main Tour was fraught with difficulties. For two years, he failed to make any considerable impact, ultimately losing his tour card in 2018. He regrouped and made his first significant victory at the China Championship semifinals that year. A year later, he reached the World Snooker Championship quarterfinals, but Mark Selby dashed his dreams in the first round.
By 2021, Zhao had squeezed his way into the elite 16 ranks. He conquered the UK Championship, besting Luca Brecel 10-5 in the final, and climbed to ninth in the world rankings. He won the German Masters in 2022, signaling his consistent rise up the WST world rankings.
The Bitterstorm: Match-Fixing Scandal
In a surprising twist, Zhao's soaring career took a drastic turn in 2023. On January 3, 2023, Zhao was suspened provisionally due to a match-fixing investigation [Link in English]. Reports later unveiled the largest match-fixing racket in snooker history, implicating ten Chinese players, including Zhao. While some were given lifetime bans, Zhao was banned for 20 months [Link in English].
An independent commission discovered that Zhao did not manipulate any matches, but he was aware of the rigging network and placed bets on behalf of another player. His honesty led to a relatively mild punisment.
His ban ended on September 1, 2024. To re-enter the game, Zhao had to compete as an amateur, navigating the Q School.
Yet, until July 2025, Zhao cannot participate in snooker tournaments in China. The Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association extended his ban beyond the world-level censure due to match-fixing, with its expiry set for July.
Powerhouse Playing Style and World Championship Glory
For many snooker experts and players, Zhao is considered one of the greatest talents of all time. Generations ago, snooker legends Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry foresaw Zhao becoming a powerhouse and dominating the game [Link in English].
Zhao's playing style is fiery, echoing the early years of Stephen Hendry. At the World Snooker Championship, he showcased remarkable precision and powerful potting. Seemingly, every ball found its target with Zhao [Video in English]:
A post shared by WST (@worldsnookertour)
The Resurgence: Winning the World Championship
Post his ban, Zhao gained ground on the Q Tour. In October 2024, he won the Q Tour Event 3 in Stockholm, even managing a maximum break - the first on the Q Tour. He then claimed the Q Tour Event 4 in Manchester, once more bagging a maximum break.
In total, Zhao claimed 32 consecutive victories on the Q Tour, securing himself a tour card for the 25/26 season, and most significantly, qualifying for the 2025 Snooker World Championship.
After surmounting the qualifying rounds astoundingly, Zhao sealed his World Championship victory on May 5, 2025, beating Mark Williams 18-12 for the first time as a professional player.
What's Next for Zhao?
Zhao undoubtedly boasts the potential to take snooker by storm in the upcoming years. Post his triumph, he will likely approach future matches with unbridled confidence.
He will be eligible to play in all significant competitions. The WST published the updated world rankings [Link in English] yesterday, positioning Zhao at 11th.
Snooker enthusiasts can anticipate an exhilarating 2025/2026 season ahead.
What is next for Zhao after his World Championship victory? Likely, he will approach future matches with unbridled confidence, aiming to take snooker by storm in the upcoming years. His potential has been recognized by snooker legends such as Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry, who foresaw him becoming a powerhouse and dominating the game.
Snooker enthusiasts can anticipate an exhilarating 2025/2026 season ahead, with the updated world rankings now positioning Zhao at 11th. Despite his recent comeback and past struggles, Xintong Zhao has proven that he is a force to be reckoned with in the world of snooker, and his achievements, such as the snooker world championship, are likely to pave the way for a successful future in sports, including football, as he continues to put his passion into practice.
