SHEFFIELD: Zhao Xintong became the first Chinese player to win the World Snooker Championship as the qualifier completed his stunning march to the title with a 18-12 victory against Mark Williams in the final on Monday.

Zhao made history at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre by taking the seven frames he required to clinch the trophy after building a dominant 11-6 lead in Sunday’s sessions.

The 28-year-old was only China’s second World Championship finalist, emulating Ding Junhui’s run to the 2016 showpiece.

But while Ding was beaten by Mark Selby in the final nine years ago, Zhao produced a nerveless display to defeat three-time champion Williams.

He banked 500,000 ($663,000) in prize money, earning immortality as Asia’s first World Championship winner.

“I can’t believe what I’ve done. It’s very exciting,” Zhao said.

“I was so nervous tonight. Mark is still a top player and put me under so much pressure. He’s the best.”

Zhao, who won the 2021 UK Championship, is one of the sport’s most unexpected world champions.

He has been playing as an amateur since September as he continues his comeback after a 20-month ban for involvement in a 2023 betting scandal.

Zhao accepted charges of being a party to another player fixing two matches and betting on matches himself in a controversy that led to 10 Chinese players being punished, with life bans for Liang Wenbo and Li Hang.

Zhao’s enforced amateur status meant he had to battle through four qualifying rounds just to reach the World Championship main draw at the Crucible, which is walking distance from his Sheffield home.

Due to return to the main professional tour next season, Zhao is just the third player after Terry Griffiths and Shaun Murphy to win the title as a qualifier in the 48-year Crucible era.

While Zhao’s story is startling, Asian snooker has been on the rise for several years.

Zhao’s triumph went viral back home with trailblazer Ding Junhui leading the tributes to China’s latest sporting superstar.

On Chinese social media platform Weibo the hash tag “Zhao Xintong wins world championship” had 120 million views as of Tuesday morning and was among the top-trending stories.

Ding, China’s first snooker star and the beaten world finalist in 2016, said Zhao’s victory was “the best reward for all the Chinese snooker fans who have long supported the sport and waited for this day”.

“The darkness we once walked through — it was all so that people could see the light,” he wrote on the X-like Weibo.

“Today Zhao Xintong did it! What he won is the shared dream of generations of Chinese snooker players.

“I’m happy for you and proud of the rise of Chinese strength!”

Only 12 months ago, Zhao was sitting at home watching the World Championship in the midst of his ban.

But his road to redemption picked up speed with a blistering display to thrash seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan 17-7 in the semi-finals last week.

The Chinese sensation produced an equally brilliant performance to dispatch Williams, who was bidding to become snooker’s oldest world champion.China now has reigning male and female champions after Bai Yulu won the 2024 World Women’s Snooker Championship.

Zhao admitted to have mixed feelings after beating his “idol” O’Sullivan in the semi-finals. But he had no such qualms about finishing off Williams.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2025