Zhao Xintong Wins World Snooker Championship, Boosts China’s Sporting Rise

Zhao Xintong made history as the first Chinese and first Asian player to win the World Snooker Championship, defeating Mark Williams 18-12 at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre. His victory marks a significant moment for Chinese snooker, inspiring a new generation of players and signaling China's rise as a global powerhouse in the sport, with Chinese players now comprising ten of the top 32 in world rankings and over 300,000 snooker and billiards clubs nationwide. Zhao's journey was remarkable, overcoming a 20-month suspension related to a betting scandal and starting as an amateur qualifier before defeating top competitors, including Ronnie O’Sullivan. The win has been widely celebrated in China, where snooker has transformed from a marginal pastime to a booming industry, driven initially by Ding Junhui’s earlier successes. Zhao’s triumph is expected to further elevate snooker’s popularity and influence in China and beyond. Meanwhile, other unrelated topics such as U.S.-China geopolitical tensions, Taiwan relations, and cryptocurrency staking were discussed in separate articles but are not connected to Zhao’s historic win.