ZHAO XINTONG, from Shenzhen, became the first Asian player to win the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield, England, on Monday local time, defeating three-time champion Mark Williams 18-12 in the final.

“It’s like a dream,” Zhao said. “I can’t believe it.”

The 28-year-old from Bao’an District entered the tournament as an amateur, earning his place through four qualifying rounds after a 20-month suspension for breaching betting regulations. He won 111 frames across nine matches to capture the title.

Zhao led the final 11-6 after Sunday’s sessions and extended his advantage to 17-8 on Monday. Williams, 50, won four straight frames at the start of the final session, but Zhao closed it out with a break of 87 in the 30th frame.

“What an opponent he is,” Williams said. “I’ve got nothing but admiration for what he has done.”

Born in Shenzhen in 1997 to parents who worked in the medical field, Zhao was introduced to snooker at age 7 on a table near his apartment building. His talent developed quickly, and by age 10, his parents had purchased a snooker table and turned a room in their home into a training area. They also hired a coach to guide his progress.

Zhao attended Songgang Middle School in Shenzhen, where he ranked in the top three of his class in academics. Despite his strong academic performance, Zhao told his mother early on that he wanted to pursue a career in snooker. In 2009, he left school to train full-time and later studied under coach Wu Wenzhong.

He turned professional in 2016 and gained attention with a strong showing against Ronnie O’Sullivan at the English Open that year. Though he lost that match 3-4, the performance earned praise and mentorship from the snooker star, who continued to support him in later years.

Off the table, Zhao has maintained ties to his hometown. In April 2020, he donated six contactless disinfectant machines to Songgang Middle School.

Chinese snooker pioneer Ding Junhui, who reached the World Championship final in 2016, praised Zhao’s win as a milestone. “The threshold I once stepped over has now become a runway for others,” Ding wrote. “Tonight, someone finally reached the finish line.”

Zhao will begin the next season ranked No. 11 in the world. Nine Chinese players are now in the top 32.

“I’m not tired at all,” Zhao said. “Tonight I will definitely have a drink to celebrate!”

Williams called Zhao’s rise remarkable. “This sport has a new superstar,” he said.

(SD News)