Zhao Xintong etched his name in history by becoming the first Chinese player to win the World Snooker Championship, defeating three-time champion Mark Williams 18-12 in the final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
The 28-year-old sealed the win after entering the championship as a qualifier and building a strong 11-6 lead during earlier sessions. His poised performance in Monday’s final delivered China its first world title in the sport, surpassing the previous best by Ding Junhui, who reached the 2016 final but lost to Mark Selby.
Zhao’s win earned him a £500,000 prize and marked a personal redemption after serving a 20-month suspension for involvement in a 2023 match-fixing scandal. Previously a UK Championship winner in 2021, Zhao had been competing as an amateur and had to pass through four qualifying rounds to reach the main draw.
“I still can’t believe this. It feels unreal,” Zhao said, acknowledging the pressure from his veteran opponent. Williams, who praised Zhao’s skill and resilience, noted that the young star could now dominate the sport.
Zhao joins an elite group of players—including Terry Griffiths and Shaun Murphy—who have won the world title after entering as qualifiers. His victory is not only a personal triumph but also a major boost for Asian snooker, especially in China, where the sport continues to grow with strong institutional support.
