Zhao Xintong Makes History as First Asian Winner of World Snooker Championship

Zhao Xintong achieved a historic victory at the World Snooker Championship by defeating Welsh veteran Mark Williams 18-12 in the finals, becoming the first player from China and Asia to lift the coveted trophy. This remarkable win took place on May 5, 2025, in Sheffield, where Zhao entered the third session with a substantial 17-8 lead but faced challenges as he lost the first four frames before clinching the title in the fifth frame.

At 28 years old, Zhao capped off his journey by being the second Chinese competitor to reach the final of this esteemed championship, following in the footsteps of Ding Junhui, who faced defeat in the 2016 final against Mark Selby. Zhao's path to the finals included a standout semifinal match where he triumphed over the legendary seven-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan with a resounding score of 17-7, demonstrating his skill with a commanding 8-0 sweep in the second session.

Mark Williams, who was 50 years and 43 days old during the finals, became the oldest player to appear in a World Snooker Championship final, showcasing the significant age difference of 22 years between him and Zhao. With their previous encounters leaning in Williams’ favor at 4-2, Zhao managed to defeat him twice in their most recent meetings leading up to the finals. The championship was structured as a best-of-35 match, necessitating 18 frames to win over four sessions. On the first day of the final, Zhao put forth an impressive performance, dominating Williams with a score of 7-1, despite Williams responding strongly in the second session by narrowly winning 5-4.

Zhao was considered a "dark horse" in the tournament, making his way to the main draw by successfully navigating the qualifiers, which included defeating 2024 runner-up Jak Jones and fellow Chinese player Lei Peifan. Interestingly, his journey to this remarkable win came after a return to professional play in September, following a 20-month ban due to betting regulations. The 2025 tournament itself marked a milestone, with a record ten Chinese players competing in the main draw and six making it to the last 16, illustrating the growing presence of Chinese players in the sport.