Zhao Xintong facts for kids
Zhao at the 2016 Paul Hunter Classic
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| Born | 3 April 1997 Bao'an District, Shenzhen, China |
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| Sport country |  China |
| Professional | 2016–2023, 2025– |
| Highest ranking | 6 (May 2022) |
| Current ranking | 77 (as of 8 May 2018) |
| Tournament wins | |
| Ranking | 3 |
| World Champion | 2025 |
| Zhao Xintong | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Simplified Chinese | 赵心童 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 趙心童 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Zhao Xintong (Chinese: 赵心童; born on April 3, 1997) is a professional snooker player from China. He is currently the reigning World Snooker Champion. Zhao became a professional player in the 2016–17 season when he was 19 years old.
Before turning professional, he had already beaten many top players as an amateur. He had a fantastic season in 2021–22. During this time, he won his first major title at the 2021 UK Championship. He beat Luca Brecel 10–5 in the final match. This win helped him enter the top 16 players in the snooker world rankings.
He then won his second big title at the 2022 German Masters. He achieved a rare 9–0 victory over Yan Bingtao in the final. This meant he won without losing a single frame. Only two other players, Steve Davis and Neil Robertson, had done this in a two-session final before him. After the 2021–22 season, he was ranked sixth in the world.
In January 2023, Zhao was suspended by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. This was part of an investigation involving several Chinese players. After a review, he was banned from playing for a period. However, his ban was reduced because he admitted his involvement early.
After his ban ended on September 1, 2024, he returned to play as an amateur. He quickly won four Q Tour events in a row between October 2024 and January 2025. This amazing performance guaranteed him a spot back on the professional tour for the 2025–26 season. He also made history by achieving a maximum break (scoring 147 points in one turn) twice on the Q Tour.
Even as an amateur, Zhao played in the 2024 UK Championship. He reached the main stage but lost in the first round. At the 2025 World Snooker Championship, he won four qualifying matches to get into the main tournament. He then went on to defeat the famous Ronnie O'Sullivan in the semi-finals. In the final, he beat Mark Williams to win his first world title. This was also his second Triple Crown title and third ranking title.
Zhao became the first player from mainland China and the first from Asia to win the World Championship. He was also the first amateur player to win a ranking event. When he returns to the professional tour, he will be ranked as world number 11.
Contents
Zhao's Journey in Snooker
Growing Up with Snooker
Zhao was born and grew up in Bao'an, Shenzhen, China. His father is a surgeon, and his mother is a head nurse. Shenzhen is well-known for its snooker culture. The sport became popular there in the 1980s.
Zhao started playing snooker when he was eight years old. He would play on tables outside shops near his home. He was not tall enough for the table at first. Instead of using a stool, he wore roller skates to practice! This helped him move around the table quickly. His parents even put a snooker table in their house when he was ten.
In 2009, after finishing elementary school, Zhao decided to train full-time. He left middle school to focus on snooker. This was unusual in China, especially for an only child. In 2013, he trained at a special snooker academy.
Early Amateur Success
Zhao started gaining attention as an amateur player. In 2012, he reached the last 16 of a tournament called the Zhangjiagang Open. He even beat a former World Champion, Ken Doherty, in another event. People started calling him a "Wildcard Menace" because he often surprised professional players.
In 2013, he beat six-time World Champion Steve Davis. Davis was very impressed and compared Zhao to a young Ronnie O'Sullivan. Zhao reached the final of the World Amateur Championship in 2013 and 2015. Although he lost both finals, his strong performances helped him earn a spot on the main professional snooker tour.
Becoming a Professional Player
Zhao became a professional player in 2016. In the 2016 English Open, he played against Ronnie O'Sullivan. Zhao played very well, making high scores. O'Sullivan praised Zhao's attacking style, saying it reminded him of Stephen Hendry.
Zhao continued to improve. He reached the semi-finals of the 2018 China Championship. He also made it to the quarter-finals of the Welsh Open. In 2019, he played in the World Snooker Championship for the first time. By the end of the 2019–20 season, his world ranking had climbed to 29th. Many top snooker players believed Zhao had huge potential to become a leading player.
In December 2020, Zhao reached the quarter-finals of the World Grand Prix. He beat John Higgins in a close match before being defeated.
Winning Major Titles
Zhao's big breakthrough came at the 2021 UK Championship. He won his first major title by defeating Luca Brecel in the final. This victory moved him into the top 10 world rankings. He then qualified for the invitational 2022 Masters for the first time.
He continued his winning streak at the 2022 German Masters. He won the final match 9–0 against Yan Bingtao, which is a very rare achievement. At the 2022 World Snooker Championship, he won his first match but was knocked out in the second round.
Returning to the Top
After a period away from professional play, Zhao returned as an amateur in September 2024. He quickly showed his skill by winning four straight Q Tour events. This amazing performance earned him a new professional tour card for the 2025–26 season. He also made two perfect 147 breaks during these events.
His success on the Q Tour also allowed him to enter the qualifying rounds for the 2025 World Snooker Championship. He won all his qualifying matches to reach the main stage. There, he played incredibly well, beating some of the best players in the world. He defeated seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan in the semi-finals. Then, in the final, he beat Mark Williams to become the World Snooker Champion.
This historic win made Zhao the first Chinese player and the first Asian player to win the World Championship. He was also the first amateur player to win this prestigious title. His victory means he will return to the professional tour as one of the top players in the world.
Career finals
Ranking finals: 3 (3 titles)
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See also
In Spanish: Zhao Xintong para niños
