Zhao Becomes China’s First World Snooker Champion with Stunning Return

At the Crucible Theatre on Monday, Zhao Xintong defeated Welshman and three-time champion Mark Williams to become the first Chinese player to win the World Snooker Championship. This victory marks the latest chapter in Zhao’s incredible rise and fall.

Williams made a valiant comeback, but the 28-year-old won 18 frames to 12 to become the first amateur to win the global title.

“I can’t believe what I’ve done. It’s very exciting,” said Zhao, draped in a Chinese flag. “I was so nervous tonight. Mark is still a top player and put me under so much pressure. He’s the best.

“It’s a very special moment for me, for Chinese snooker, for everyone.”

Zhao was banned for 20 months in January 2023 following a match-fixing scandal that rocked the sport. As a result, he was considered an amateur at this event and had to qualify through four rounds of qualifying to advance to the Crucible, which was a demanding journey to the title that started on April 7.

Living just 10 minutes’ walk from the Crucible venue, the Chinese player led 11–6 overnight into Monday’s third session.

Williams lacked accuracy and seemed helpless to stop his opponent from taking an apparently impossible 17-8 lead, meaning Zhao only needed to win one frame in the evening final to win the world title. In contrast, Zhao appeared completely unflappable and continued to smile throughout the afternoon session.

However, an unrestrained Williams kept things intriguing by using a barrage of great shots to win the opening four frames of the evening. The younger player responded in the fifth to win.

With his victory over world number one Judd Trump in the semi-final, Williams, 50, became the oldest player to advance to the final, making the match historic regardless of the outcome.

“It’s been a brilliant tournament for me,” said Williams, momentarily fighting back tears. “The support I’ve had for the past two weeks has been unbelievable.

“But what a potter Zhao is. I’m glad I’ll be too old when he’s dominating the game. I’ve got nothing but admiration for what he’s done, coming through the qualifiers. He hasn’t played for two years, bashed everybody up. There’s a new superstar of the game.”

The semi-finals were supposed to be the coronation of a new snooker king, but Zhao had already defeated seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan.

In the best-of-35 match, the Chinese player known as “the Cyclone” raced out to an early 7-1 lead, but Williams put on a little comeback in the second session on Sunday to preserve his chances of winning a fourth title.

However, since the tournament’s relocation to the Crucible in 1977, no player had recovered from such a significant overnight deficit.

Zhao became one of just two qualifiers to win the most coveted title in snooker, behind Terry Griffiths and Shaun Murphy.

With Monday’s victory, he received a check for 500,000 pounds ($664,000.00), while Williams received 200,000 ($265,000) and rose to the third spot in the world rankings.

While he waits for lens replacement surgery in June, Williams has been dealing with problems with his vision and has not worn glasses or contact lenses while playing.

“I’m still playing quite good stuff, even though my eyesight is a bit blurry,” Williams stated.