In a historic moment for Asian sports, China's Zhao Xintong defeated Wales' Mark Williams 18-14 at the 2024 World Snooker Championship, becoming the first Asian player to claim the sport's most prestigious title. The 28-year-old's journey from child prodigy to world champion spans two decades of perseverance, setbacks, and triumphs.
The Early Years Zhao first picked up a cue at age eight in his native Xi'an, quickly demonstrating uncanny precision that his coach called "world-class for his age." By 13, he reached the national youth tournament finals, foreshadowing his 2010 breakthrough win at a Shenzhen championship.
Professional Rollercoaster After turning professional in 2016, Zhao's aggressive playstyle led to inconsistent results and two relegations from the tour. His resilience shone through with back-to-back promotions, culminating in major victories: the 2021 UK Championship and 2022 German Masters.
Redemption Arc A 20-month suspension in 2023 threatened to derail Zhao's career, but the player later reflected that it "taught humility and clarified my purpose." His September 2024 return saw dominant Q-Tour wins before conquering snooker legends Ronnie O'Sullivan and Williams at the Crucible.
