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Tom Bell

Zhao Xintong completed China’s arrival as a snooker powerhouse by becoming its first winner of the World Championship in England late on Monday.
An 18-12 defeat of Mark Williams in the final at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre clinched a breakthrough triumph for Zhao that promises to inspire future generations in his home country – now snooker’s biggest market.
Resuming with a 17-8 lead and needing one more frame to complete victory, the 28-year-old proceeded to lose the first four to his veteran opponent, before getting over the finish line in the fifth.
“I can’t believe what I’ve done. I’m very excited,” Zhao, draped in China’s flag, told the Crucible audience. “I was so nervous tonight. Mark is still a top player and gave me so much pressure. He’s the best.
“I want to say thank you for everybody coming here, a nice crowd. Thank you everybody.”

Zhao said he planned some celebratory drinks, but admitted he had struggled to visualise scaling such heights after being banned for 20 months in 2023 for his fringe role in a match-fixing scandal. He did not fix matches but was a party to another player doing so, and placed bets, for which he apologised and expressed shame and regret.
“That’s why I can’t believe it now,” he said at the Crucible. “I think I’m having a dream, I’m not sure.”
Looking on proudly was Victoria Shi, who runs Victoria’s Academy, the snooker centre 10 minutes’ walk away where Zhao practises. There will have been satisfaction, too, at the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association (CBSA) base in Beijing.
“I need to say many thank-yous,” Zhao said. “My parents, Victoria, my girlfriend, my coach when I was young … the CBSA academy. Many thank-yous.”
Zhao had led 7-1 then 11-6 after the first two sessions on Sunday, which became 17-8 after Monday’s third.
Wales’ three-time winner Williams began the final session in determined fashion and raced through the first frame of the evening, taking it with a century break.
Aiming to become the oldest world champion in history at the age of 50, he continued his resurgence by adding a second frame, keeping Zhao waiting for his expected coronation.

Williams held his form, a break of 96 earning him the night’s third frame to claw the score back to 17-11. He won the fourth, too, with a 73 break to take the match past the mid-session interval and spark pandemonium in the audience.
But in the next, when Williams failed to capitalise on a Zhao miss, the Chinese cueist accepted his second chance and cleared the table for victory.
Yet to return to the professional tour as he rebuilds his career, Zhao became the first amateur to triumph at the Crucible, and the youngest champion in 20 years. Having won four preliminary rounds before the tournament proper started, he was only the fourth qualifier to lift the trophy.
Along with a historic achievement came a £500,000 (US$665,000) winner’s cheque.
The impact in China could be far-reaching: the final was screened on state television and World Snooker Tour (WST), which runs the pro circuit, expected up to 150 million viewers.
China had last year already gained its first women’s world champion, in Bai Yulu, whose title earned her a place on the WST circuit. She will defend her women’s crown at the end of this month in Dongguan, close to where Zhao grew up in Shenzhen.

“It is very good for Chinese snooker and I am very happy I have done this for them,” Zhao said. “I can’t believe I could become world champion in such a short time [after the ban], so I am so proud of myself.
“It was nearly two years playing no competition, so my first target was to qualify. Now this will give them [people in China] power and in the future many Chinese players can do this.”


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World Snooker

World Snooker Championship: Zhao Xintong wins historic first title for China

China’s Zhao Xintong poses with the world championship trophy after winning the final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. Photo: AFP

Zhao Xintong holds China’s flag moments after completing his victory. Photo: AFP

Zhao Xintong watches as Mark Williams fights back. Photo: AFP

Mark Williams congratulates Zhao Xintong at the end of the final on Monday. Photo: AFP

Zhao Xintong a step closer to becoming first Chinese player to be world snooker champion

Mark Williams and Zhao Xintong pose at the start of the final in Sheffield. Photo: Reuters

Zhao Xintong greets fans as he enters the Crucible for the final. Photo: Action Images via Reuters

Mark Williams celebrates beating Judd Trump at the Crucible Theatre on Saturday. Photo: AP

World Snooker Championship: Zhao routs O’Sullivan to reach final and earn shot at history

Zhao Xintong in control during his semi-final against Ronnie O’Sullivan at the Crucible Theatre. Photo: Action Images via Reuters

It all goes wrong for Ronnie O’Sullivan at the Crucible. Photo: Action Images via Reuters

Ronnie O’Sullivan congratulates Zhao Xintong on his victory. Photo: Action Images via Reuters

Sport

China

News

‘I can’t believe what I’ve done,’ Zhao says after clinching world crown by dominating Mark Williams at the Crucible in Sheffield


‘I can’t believe what I’ve done,’ Zhao says after clinching world crown by dominating Mark Williams at the Crucible in Sheffield.


World Snooker Championship

World Snooker Championship: Zhao Xintong wins historic first title for China

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}‘I can’t believe what I’ve done,’ Zhao says after clinching world crown by dominating Mark Williams at the Crucible in Sheffield

‘I can’t believe what I’ve done,’ Zhao says after clinching world crown by dominating Mark Williams at the Crucible in Sheffield