Playing Style
Zhao Xintong plays snooker at breath-taking speed — his aggressive, instinctive approach resembles Ronnie O'Sullivan more than any other contemporary player.
Zhao's attacking style earned him the nickname "The Chinese Ronnie" — a comparison that reflects his extraordinary natural talent.
Career Biography
Zhao Xintong was born in Xi'an in 1997 and turned professional in 2016, making rapid progress through the rankings. His speed of play, attacking instincts, and ability to construct large breaks from difficult positions marked him out as someone who could reach the very top of the game.
The 2021 UK Championship proved to be the tournament that announced him to the wider snooker world — defeating Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final and becoming the first Chinese player in history to win a Triple Crown event. He followed up with several more strong performances in 2021–22, rising into the world's top five.
In 2021, Zhao won the UK Championship with a series of stunning attacking displays that drew comparisons with the young Ronnie O'Sullivan.
Then came the devastating blow. In 2023, Zhao was handed a 20-month ban from the World Snooker Tour after being found guilty of charges related to betting — one of ten Chinese players caught up in an investigation that shook the sport. The ban removed him from the tour at what appeared to be the peak of his powers, and there were genuine questions about whether he could return to the same level after such a lengthy absence. The suspension was professionally damaging and personally difficult, and the snooker world followed his case with a mixture of concern and anticipation.
His 2021 UK Championship triumph announced him as one of the most exciting young talents in world snooker.
When Zhao returned to the tour in 2024, he did so with the hunger and focus of someone who understood precisely what was at stake. He worked his way back up the rankings with a series of strong performances, demonstrating that the ban had not diminished his ability or his desire. And then, in 2025, came the ultimate vindication: Zhao Xintong won the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre, defeating Jak Jones 18-12 in the final to become the first Chinese player in history to lift the world title. It was one of the great sporting comebacks — a story of talent, adversity, redemption, and triumph that transcended the snooker world and resonated across sport globally.
Zhao was suspended in 2023 for involvement in match-fixing but returned to the tour determined to rebuild his career and reputation.
Major Career Titles
| Year | Tournament | Opponent in Final | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 🏆UK Championship | Ronnie O'Sullivan | 10–9 |
| 2022 | 🏆German Masters | Yan Bingtao | 9–4 |
| 2022 | 🏆British Open | Mark Selby | 9–7 |
| 2025 | 🌍World Championship | Jak Jones | 18–12 |
Career Centuries
With the 2025 World Championship triumph behind him and the majority of his career still ahead, Zhao has every opportunity to build a century tally that places him among the sport's all-time greats.
At the World Championship
Zhao Xintong's Crucible record is defined by two sharply contrasting chapters. Before his suspension, he reached the semi-finals of the 2022 World Championship — his performances that year demonstrated he had the ability to compete with the very best over the extended Crucible format.
Then, in 2025, came the moment that defined his career. Returning to the Crucible for the first time since his suspension, Zhao won convincingly — 18–12 against Jak Jones — becoming the first Chinese player in history to lift the world title. The reception in China was extraordinary, and the victory represented the completion of a journey from prodigy to world champion via adversity and comeback.
