Moments after making history as China’s first world snooker champion, Zhao Xintong stood proudly wrapped in his nation’s flag, beginning to grasp the magnitude of his accomplishment.
On Monday, Zhao overcame three-time champion Mark Williams with an 18-12 victory, becoming the first Asian player and amateur to win at the Crucible Theatre. Williams praised the 28-year-old as a “superstar,” while Jason Ferguson, chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), remarked that Zhao’s win could revolutionize the sport.
“He’s not just a champion—he’s a national sports icon. Zhao has earned his place in snooker history, and in China, he’s set to become a massive celebrity,” Ferguson told BBC Sport. “Snooker already has a strong presence in China, and with his youth, talent, and bilingual abilities in English and Mandarin, Zhao has what it takes to elevate the game globally.”
Unlike some cultures that root for underdogs, Ferguson noted, China celebrates champions. Zhao’s popularity could see him rise as one of the country’s biggest sports stars.
He also became just the third qualifier—following Terry Griffiths and Shaun Murphy—to win the World Championship since the event moved to Sheffield in 1977. His victory is especially remarkable considering he only recently returned from a 20-month suspension for his involvement in a match-fixing case, one that saw 10 Chinese players penalized.
Yet, after showing exceptional form on the amateur Q Tour this season, Zhao defied the odds by winning four qualifying matches and capturing the sport’s most prestigious trophy.
Following the final, Williams expressed his admiration: “I’m relieved I’ll be retired when he starts dominating. What he’s done, especially after such a long break, is incredible. We’re witnessing the rise of snooker’s next superstar.”
“This could be game-changing for snooker,” Williams added. “It’s what the sport needed—someone like Zhao emerging from nowhere and shaking things up. It’s going to make headlines everywhere.”
Zhao’s win also marks a second major milestone for China this year, a nation with over 300,000 snooker clubs and a population of 1.4 billion. Bai Yulu had earlier become China’s first female world champion and is set to defend her title on home soil later this month.
May Zhao, reporting from Sheffield for the International Sport Press Association, commented: “Zhao’s triumph is not just a personal victory—it’s a pivotal moment for Chinese snooker. It’s likely he’ll receive a hero’s welcome upon returning home. His success will motivate young players and could transform China’s snooker infrastructure.”
“This moment could reshape the sports commercial future. Zhao isn’t just a winner—he’s a pioneer ushering in a new era for Chinese snooker.”
