Overview

• Zhao Xintong secured an 18-12 victory over three-time champion Mark Williams to win the 2025 World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.
• He is the first Chinese player to win the prestigious title and only the third qualifier in Crucible history to achieve this feat.
• Zhao’s triumph comes after a 20-month suspension for being involved in a 2023 match-fixing scandal, during which he admitted to betting on matches but did not fix any games himself.
• His path to the title included four qualifying rounds and a dominant semi-final win over seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, whom he defeated 17-7.
• Zhao’s victory is seen as a pivotal moment for snooker’s globalization, with millions of fans in China tuning in to celebrate their country’s first world champion.