After becoming the first Chinese player to win the World Snooker Championship, Zhao Xintong now hopes to win even more titles and inspire new talent in China.
The 28-year-old, known as “the Cyclone,” defeated three-time champion Mark Williams 18-12 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield on Monday, completing a powerful comeback in his career.
Zhao’s win made headlines across China, with many fans celebrating the major step forward for Chinese snooker. He is now one of five Chinese players ranked in the world’s top 20.
Speaking to China’s Xinhua news agency, Zhao said, “I understand that this win means a lot for Chinese snooker. I believe I can win more tournaments and help more people get interested in the sport. I’m ready to move forward and begin a new chapter in my career.”
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Zhao was banned for 20 months in January 2023 due to a match-fixing scandal that shocked the snooker world. Because of the ban, he was considered an amateur during the championship and had to win four qualifying rounds to make it to the Crucible—a tough journey that began on April 7.
“I made a mistake and learned from it, but I never stopped believing in myself,” Zhao said. “I kept practicing and closely followed the professional tour.”
He added that quitting snooker was never an option for him and that he was focused on making a strong comeback.
Zhao admitted he was unsure if he could handle the pressure of big tournaments again and didn’t expect much at the World Championship.
“Since I hadn’t played in major events for a long time, just reaching the final stages and playing at the Crucible made me happy,” he said.
