Zhao Xintong 2025 World Snooker Champion!
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A special congrats to Zhao for being the first Chinese World Snooker Champion (WSC) and the first amateur to win it all (more on that later). No rub to the great and lovable Willow, but this is a momentous win for Xintong and China.
To me, this win has touched on several hot topics related to snooker, xenophobia, world politics, and national responsibilities regarding sport. So, read this with an open mind. I understand the written word can be misinterpreted in these discussions, and I mean no disrespect to anyone.
Xenophobia and Cheating, a Double Whammy for Snooker’s Progress, or How to Not Bury the Lead.
Zhao and nine other players were caught up in what is affectionately called the "Chinese Match-Fixing Ring" in 2022. Of the 24 matches considered fixed by the WPBSA, Xintong was deemed to have "knowledge" of match-fixing and betting for Yan Bingtao in two matches. Zhao was never directly involved in match-fixing.
Xintong was banned for two years (2022 - 2024) and had to enter this season as an amateur. Xintong had to qualify for WST events in 2024/25, including the WSC. Interestingly enough, the Chinese counterpart to the WPBSA banned Zhao for longer, until 2025.
As you would imagine, the social media keyboard warriors came down hard on the Chinese player for being caught up in this caper, and for being Chinese while doing it. Cheating is terrible enough for the sport, any sport, and it does not matter what country the player comes from. But somehow, the ill-intent of adding the word Chinese to the phrase Chinese Cheater hurts the sport as well, imo. Don't get me wrong, I do love alliteration, but I despise xenophobia more.
No country is immune to cheating, mainly because humans live in every country. Wait..., what? Yup, every country has people, and people do sometimes cheat. Seeing an "other" country-person get caught should not make you think that it is that country or any other intrinsic attribute about that person that made them cheat. For instance, Mark King just got a five-year ban for cheating. Does that mean all UK people are cheaters? No, of course not. But some are.
Are there countries that foster cheating amongst their citizens? Give me a break, no. Are some efforts that other countries take to improve their citizens’ performances misinterpreted as cheating? Yes, absolutely. Does pressure to win at the highest level of sport cause young, impressionable, and isolated players to be open to cheating? Yes! You see it in snooker, pool, sumo wrestling, NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAA, and on and on.
A New Champion. A New Defining Moment for Man and Country
We all know that a championship is the highest measure in all sports. Snooker, being one of the most difficult sports around, also has a grueling journey toward being a champion. It is difficult enough for a WST player to win the WSC. For instance, in the past 26 Championships, only 13 players have won, and nine of those are single-time winners. The Class of ’92, consisting of Ronnie, Mark W., and John, won 10 championships between 2000 and 2013, leaving four single-time winners. The other five single-time winners won their titles between 2014 and Zhao’s 2025 win.
To get banned due to a stupid decision, regardless of how benign or malignant your intent is, and then to win a world title in the season you get reinstated is a hell of a statement. That statement might be, “This is a new day for Xintong,” and the start of a new definition of the man. That old definition is not going away, but there is now a new definition of the man, “Champion!” Hey, one might even say, “Chinese Champion,” there we go with that alliteration again.
Zhao Xintong’s achievement of winning the WSC should not be tarnished by his past. But should his past be ignored because of his win? No, not that either. I propose a third option— they are considered separate events in one person’s life that help define that person. However, like every event in our lives, not all are equal. Some are easy and stupid, like getting caught up in a scandal; others take immense control and discipline, like winning a WSC.
This win is too close to the scandal for Zhao to clear his name completely, but it goes a long way, doesn't it? If Xintong wins again and becomes the first multiple WSC winner since Selby did it nine years ago vs Ding, will that minimize his cheating stigma? How many wins did it take for the Wizard of Wishaw to minimize his scandal? How long will it take Mark King?
A Chinese Champion
Xintong was my bet on being the first Asian player to win the WSC. Zhao had a way about him that made me pause. He looked controlled, disciplined, and decisive, but he also has a bad-ass attitude. Ronnie O’Sullivan has said as much over the years and had good things to say about Zhao as he mowed over the beleaguered seven-time champion. But it was all a mystery until now as to who would be the first Chinese champion.
Xintong popped the bubble. We all knew a Chinese player would win the WSC at some point. I always hoped it would be the grandfather of Chinese snooker, Ding Junhui. But, Ding happened to be only a victim of Selby in 2016, making Mark the last multiple WSC winner.
China has entered Snooker Championship Land, and Zhao Xintong is their guide. The 28-year-old represents a country that has invested a lot of money in cue sports. They have cue sports schools with world-class coaches and courses. They also support their players in other ways. China’s love for cue sports, particularly snooker and American Pool, has caused them to create Heyball, a sport formerly known as Chinese 8-Ball that is on the rise worldwide.
Now with a snooker champion in tow, China can make successful claims about its investments in cue sports. And don’t be fooled, Xintong is the tip of the spear for China. Other players are emerging from their system. And what about the king of snooker, the UK? A few federations are doing the hard work, to be sure, but do the governments empower them? Some players would say no, and they should do more. Others say yes, and the results are on the way.
Here are fun facts since Ding was in the finals in 2016 (10 championships). The class of ‘92 has won three WSC. The old Class of ‘92 has secured 30% of the past ten titles! As for multiple winners, Mark Selby has won three, while Ronnie has won two during that period. The single-time winners include Zhao, Kyren, Luca, Judd, and Willow, with two out of the past three champions not hailing from the UK. China reached two finals, winning one, while Belgium and Wales each won one. What does it all mean? Well, in 2016, there were a lot of people anticipating Ding being the first Chinese champion. Not only did that not happen, but no one from China has made it to the finals until this year. The invisible data between then and now is that Ding made it possible for Zhao.
In ten years, will Xintong and his massive accomplishment inspire other countrymen to try harder and visualize being a champ or a cheater? I’d imagine he would inspire champions. What about claiming more championships for Zhao, will that happen? IDK, we will see, I would take that bet. What will the data say? I don’t know all what it will say, like “It started a wave of Chinese champions,” or “It was a one-and-done champion for Xintong and China.” Who really knows? However, despite not having the foresight to see where this leads for China and Zhao, I know one thing it will say— 2025, Xintong Zhao, China, Winner.