From the competition to Snooker history: the groundbreaking rise from Zhao Xintong

In 2015, a teenager Zhao Xintong told a documentary that he wanted to be like a Chinese snooker -trail blazer thing junhui.

But now 28 has exceeded the remarkable achievements of his compatriot by becoming China's First World Snooker Champion on Monday.

Zhao defeated the three-time world champion Mark Williams 18-12 in the final to win the title in the Tiegeltheater of Sheffield on Monday.

The unexpected triumph of the left -hander is the highlight of a history of salvation that guarantees him a place in Chinese sports history.

Zhao's journey from the first increase of a CUE at the age of eight to fame in his first appearance in the world -nooker championship final was not without controversy.

The winner of the British championship 2021 played as an amateur in Crucible when he continued his comeback from a 20-month ban for his participation in a large competition scandal.

Chinese players in recent years have become a significant force in Snooker, but in 2023 10 players from the country were banned in a match fixing case who shaken sport into his foundations.

Two players, Liang Wenbo and Li Hang, were banned for life.

Zhao's suspension was the shortest and reflected the fact that he did not bet her, she did not threw.

Away from home

Like many of the Chinese players who are now making a name for themselves, Zhao has made the northern English city of Sheffield its base.

Zhao is with the Chinese -led Victoria's Snooker Academy, a two -story facility that is only 10 minutes on foot from the melting pot.

Not far away, there is also the thing Junhui Snooker Academy.

A record of 10 Chinese were among the last 32 players who competed in the melting pot and reflected how prominent the country is now in sports.

For many of them, including ZHAO, everything returns to thing, China's first snooker star.

“My goal when I was younger was to become someone like Ding Junhui.” A 17-year-old Zhao told a Chinese documentary in 2015 entitled “Weren Ding Junhui”.

The so -called grandfather of the Chinese snooker won the British championship three times and the Masters in 2011.

Ding lost the World Cup final against Mark Selby in 2016.

“Fortunately of the child in the world”

Zhao was born in the tourist city of Xian, but when a child moved into the metropolis of Shenzhen, just above the Hong Kong border when his parents went to work there.

A single child, Zhao's father, Zhao Xiaowei, is the vice president of a hospital and his mother Wen Anxiao is a nurse in the same hospital.

Zhao was interested in snooker for the first time because some tables were set up near his house outside of small shops.

When his interest grew, his parents put a snooker table in one of the rooms in their house and made it into his practice room.

Even, as it is typical for many Chinese parents, they were skeptical about his sporty ambitions and wanted him to study.

Zhao's mother remembers in the documentary: “I asked him when you ended the university, what job will you do?

“He said: 'Play Snooker'. He said it very firmly, he didn't have to think about it.”

She says this was the moment when she decided to fully support his decision to make snookers fully.

Zhao recognized the support of his parents and said: “I'm the happiest child in the Snooker world.”

The same program includes a sounding confirmation from Ding's father, who calls Zhao as a “favorite” talent and a “rare” talent.

“There is no problem with the character of this child” He says.

The seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan is another big fan of Zhao, even after suffering a 17:7 semi-final defeat against him in Sheffield last week in Sheffield.

It is known that the two practice together and dine with themselves, and they shared a warm hug in the changing rooms according to Zhao's devastating exhibition.

Apart from snooker and as its fame, Zhao's personal life in China has checked.

A few years ago, he appeared photos with a Chinese student, whom he met in Great Britain, in which he seemed to demonstrate the alleged wealth of his family.

Zhao showed a picture in the trunk of a Rolls-Royce.

After the breathtaking success on Monday, Zhao has the wealth of the Snooker world at his feet.