Zhao Xintong emerges from ban to become China's first snooker world champion

The Crucible Theatre witnessed a truly historic moment as Zhao Xintong defeated Mark Williams 18-12 in the World Snooker Championship final, becoming the first player from China to lift the coveted trophy. This victory holds immense significance for the sport, particularly in China, where snooker is treated as a national sport with over 300,000 halls and a massive audience, highlighting the fulfillment of a long-held aspiration since Ding Junhui's breakthrough success two decades prior.

Zhao's triumph is made even more remarkable by his personal journey. Just 227 days ago, he was competing on the amateur tour, having recently returned from a 20-month suspension linked to a match-fixing scandal. While he did not directly throw matches, he accepted charges related to another player's fixing and personal betting, showing remorse. His return has been nothing short of extraordinary; he's been nearly unbeatable at the amateur level, winning 42 of 44 games and qualifying for the World Championship with ease.

Effortless swagger

In the final against the veteran Mark Williams, the oldest finalist in Crucible history at 50, Zhao showcased his exceptional talent and unflappable nature, playing with effortless swagger for large periods. He built a commanding 17-8 lead before the final session. Williams mounted a fightback, winning four consecutive frames to close the gap to 17-12, demonstrating his resilience. However, Zhao remained composed and sealed the historic victory with a fluent break of 87, symbolizing what some see as the ushering in of a new era for the sport.

Mark Williams was gracious in defeat, acknowledging the magnitude of the moment for Chinese snooker and praising Zhao's potential. He called Zhao a "new superstar" who "could dominate," even joking that he was glad he'd be too old to face that future dominance. Zhao himself was emotional, finding the win "unbelievable," like a "dream," and expressing happiness for his country's snooker future, believing "many Chinese players can win this." Despite living a mere 10-minute walk from the venue, the true impact of Zhao's historic triumph will resonate thousands of miles away, marking a pivotal moment for Chinese sport on the global stage.