China’s Zhao Xintong has carved his name into snooker history by becoming the first Asian player to win the World Snooker Championship. The 24-year-old defeated Wales’ Mark Williams 18-12 in an electrifying final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England, on Monday.
Entering the final session with a commanding 17-8 lead, Zhao was just one frame away from clinching the title. However, the veteran Williams, 50, mounted a fierce comeback, firing a century in the 26th frame and winning three consecutive frames to narrow the gap to 17-12.
Zhao kept his cool and sealed his victory in the 30th frame with an impressive break of 87. Throughout the match, he showcased his exceptional skills with two centuries of 100 and 104, along with 11 half-century breaks.
“I can’t believe it. I am so happy,” Zhao said, beaming with joy after his historic win. “It feels like a dream right now. I can’t believe it’s come true. I can’t believe what I’ve done this month. It’s been really exciting.”
Williams was full of praise for the new champion. “What a potter he is,” he said of Zhao. “I’m glad I’ll be too old when he’s dominating. I’ve got nothing but admiration for what he’s done. He’s come through the qualifiers and bashed Ronnie up, bashed me up. Bashed everyone up. There’s a new superstar of the game and it’s him.”
Zhao’s triumph marks a significant milestone for snooker, inspiring a new generation of players from Asia and around the world.
