Zhao Xintong becomes first player from China to win snooker world championship as he beats Mark Williams 18-12

Zhao Xintong has become the first player from China to win the snooker world championship after beating Mark Williams 18-12.

The 28-year-old is also only the third winner of the tournament to have come through qualifying since it moved to Sheffield in 1977.

Sunday night’s session began 17-8, meaning Zhao only needed one frame to clinch the title.

Three-time world champion Williams gave his fans faint hope of the biggest of comebacks when he won the opening four frames, including a break of 101.

However, it was only a matter of time and Zhao, nicknamed ‘The Cyclone’, finally got the frame he needed.

He wins £500,000 and the prestige of being the first Chinese and Asian champion at the Crucible.

Fifty-year-old Welshman Williams paid tribute to his opponent, saying there’s “a new superstar of the game and he’s over there”.

Despite his huge lead, Zhao admitted he was “so nervous” ahead of the final frames and that his historic win seemed like a dream.

He thanked his family and coaches and said he would probably “have a good drink tonight”.

The player was joined by his mother and girlfriend as the ticker tape fell and he collected the trophy.

Zhao – who now lives in the UK – was banned for 20 months in 2023 for his part in a match-fixing scandal.

Despite not throwing a match himself, he lost his professional status and was barred from the snooker world tour, though he’s due back next season.

Zhao also thrashed his hero Ronnie O’Sullivan 17-7 in the semi-final

“The Rocket” posted a picture of the pair together when his opponent was a child alongside the caption: “How it started vs how it’s going.”

A record 10 Chinese players made it to the Crucible this year, and Zhao’s victory could make him a huge star back home and propel the sport to new heights.

When Ding Junhui made it to the final in 2016, more than 200 million people in China are estimated to have watched on TV.