Sheffield, England (Reuters) — Zhao Xintong etched his name into snooker history on Monday, becoming the first Chinese player to win the World Snooker Championship after defeating three-time champion Mark Williams at the Crucible Theatre.
The 28-year-old triumphed 18-12 in the final, capping a remarkable comeback that saw him rise from suspension to the pinnacle of the sport. Notably, Zhao became the first amateur to lift the world title, having entered the tournament through qualifying rounds.
“I can’t believe what I’ve done. It’s very exciting,” said Zhao, wrapped in the Chinese flag. “I was so nervous tonight. Mark is still such a great player and put me under huge pressure. He’s the best.
“It’s a very special moment—for me, for Chinese snooker, for everyone.”
Zhao’s journey to the title followed a turbulent period. In January 2023, he was handed a 20-month suspension for his involvement in a match-fixing scandal that shook the sport. Returning as an amateur, Zhao had to navigate four tough rounds of qualifiers to even reach the main draw, beginning his campaign on April 7.
Living just a short walk from the Crucible, Zhao carried an 11-6 overnight lead into the third session on Monday. Calm and composed, he dominated the afternoon play to extend his advantage to 17-8, needing just one more frame in the evening to seal the title.
Williams, showcasing his trademark flair, mounted a spirited comeback by winning the first four frames of the final session. But Zhao responded with poise, clinching the decisive frame and with it, a long-awaited moment of redemption and glory.
The final carried historic weight even before a ball was struck—50-year-old Mark Williams had already made headlines by becoming the oldest player to reach the World Championship final since the tournament moved to the Crucible in 1977, following his semi-final victory over world No. 1 Judd Trump.
“It’s been a brilliant tournament for me,” said an emotional Williams, briefly holding back tears. “The support I’ve had over the past two weeks has been unbelievable.
“But what a potter Zhao is. I’m kind of relieved I’ll be too old by the time he’s dominating the sport. I’ve got nothing but admiration for what he’s achieved—coming through the qualifiers, not having played for two years, and then taking out everyone. There’s a new superstar in the game.”
Zhao’s path to the title included a stunning semi-final win over seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, setting the stage for what many saw as the coronation of snooker’s next great talent.
Nicknamed “The Cyclone” for his fast, aggressive style, Zhao stormed to a commanding 7–1 lead early in the best-of-35-frame final. Williams mounted a brief resurgence during Sunday’s second session, but no player had ever overcome such a deficit at the Crucible.
With his win, Zhao joins Terry Griffiths and Shaun Murphy as the only qualifiers ever to claim snooker’s most coveted prize.
He takes home £500,000 ($664,000) in prize money, while runner-up Williams earns £200,000 ($265,000) and moves up to No. 3 in the world rankings.
Williams, who has been dealing with vision issues, played the tournament without glasses or contact lenses as he awaits lens replacement surgery in June.
“I’m still playing pretty good snooker—even with the blurry vision,” he added with a smile.
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