Zhao Xintong Becomes First Asian Snooker World Champion, Making History

On the evening of May 5 (local time), the 2025 World Snooker Championship concluded at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, UK. China’s Zhao Xintong defeated three-time world champion and Welsh veteran Mark Williams 18-12 to win his first World Championship title, making history.

Zhao not only became the first Chinese and Asian player to win the World Snooker Championship, but also the first amateur in history to claim the title.

The 28-year-old had missed nearly two seasons due to suspension but made a powerful comeback in 2024 by winning four out of five Q Tour events. At this year’s Championship, he advanced from the qualifying rounds, defeating top names including last year’s runner-up Jak Jones, tough competitor Michael White, and seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan to reach the final.

In the first three sessions of the final, Zhao maintained his red-hot form, taking commanding leads of 7-1, 11-6, and 17-8 to move within one frame of victory against the 50-year-old Williams.

Although Williams mounted a spirited comeback in the evening session—winning four consecutive frames and saving multiple match points to bring the score to 12-17 by the mid-session interval—Zhao ultimately held firm. With a composed and clinical finish, he sealed the match 18-12 with a decisive break.

Zhao’s triumph not only avenges Ding Junhui’s runner-up finish in 2016 but also marks a shift in China’s position from challenger to leader in the world of snooker. As World Snooker Tour Chairman Jason Ferguson remarked, “Zhao Xintong’s victory will reshape the commercial landscape of snooker.”

With the win, Zhao takes home £500,000 in prize money and re-enters the world’s top 16 in the rankings. For a player who once hit rock bottom, this is more than a career turnaround—it’s a milestone heralding a new era for Chinese snooker.