Zhao Xintong's scandal career and net Worth as Ronnie O'Sullivan's feelings clear

Zhao Xintong conquered the 2025 snooker championship in Sturm and reached the semi-finals when he continues his remarkable return of a 20-month suspension

Zhao Xintong deservedly earned his place in the semi -finals of the 2025 World Snooker Championship and achieved an impressive return to sport since they played as an amateur.

The Chinese Cueman is in his last four-person draw against Ronnie O'Sullivan in Sheffield in Sheffield, which currently leads 12-4 in the crucible.

After he had overcome four strenuous qualification rounds, including victories against Ka Wai Cheung and Elliot Slessor, Zhao's way back to the famous Crucible Theater. Within the main event, he sent Jak Jones 10: 4 comfortably last year, triumphed about Lei Peifan and dominated Chris Wakelin with a 13: 5 victory in the quarter-finals.

Now he is in the rocket and apparently on the way to the final, where he might face the Welshman Mark Williams or the English star, Judd Trump,

A victory in Sheffield would end Zhao's successful comeback after a 20-month absence.

In January 2023, a promising trajectory within the sport was interrupted abruptly when Zhao stood by suspension during an extensive examination of the game fixation. The WPBSA guilty him guilty of participating in the manipulation and bet of games from 2019 to 2022, but relieved him of the arms of his games.

After Zhao recognized the indictment and recognized the shortest suspension of the 10 disciplined Chinese players, he returned to the race track in September 2024. On the Q tour, he immediately shone with a series of victories and two maximum breaks to secure his re-entry into the largest platform for the professional snooker, reports The Mirror.

Thinking about his break, Zhao, whose net assets are reported in the region of the region £ 1.5 millionto BBC said: “I made a little mistake two years ago. I know how important snooker is for me. These two years were very long for me, I practiced every day.”

Before his suspension, Zhao already made waves in the Snooker world and turned on the head with his incredible talent -especially in the eyes of the Snooker legend O'Sullivan. Before the player championship in 2022, the seven -time champion was not afraid to compare Zhao with a young Stephen Hendry.

“The last time I was so excited was a player when I was Stephen Hendry when I was only nine years old. Zhao has been the only one since I was thinking: 'Wow, he could be something special,” said O'Sullivan.

O'Sullivan went so far to equate Zhao's attitude onto the table, to which the tennis icon Roger Federer, pointed out to his graceful style and suggested that Zhao was needed to challenge O'Sullivan's own records. “Perhaps he is the only one out there that could overthrow some of them,” said Snooker, born in Wordsley, and praised Zhaos extraordinary pot capabilities and aggressive gameplay.

Last month, O'Sullivan doubled his great praise and made a confidential forecast for Zhao's future. “I think he'll be number 1, world champion in three years. He is our Luke Littler and he is a cool looking guy; he has something about him. Incredible talent,” he said.

“For me he is closest to Stephen Hendry. His goal is incredible, his position game, his touch. He has power. He has everything, this child.”

Zhao also holds up O'Sullivan and sees him as an idol and her match on the melting pot as “a dream” that has come true. After Zhao secured his place in the semifinals, he considered WST: “Ronnie is the biggest player ever. I saw him as a child and it's a dream to play him in a semi -finals. I just want to enjoy it and play my game.”

The mutual respect between the two players gives their semi-finals a fascinating layer, a demanding best-of-33 frame competition, which could be decisive on Zhaos extraordinary comeback trip.

O'Sullivan is looking for an unprecedented eighth world crown, but has been a bit irregular lately.

Zhao's shape was so impressive that even Hendry identified him as an impressive opponent. Hendry spoke in his podcast by Snooker Club and praised Zhaos “Stardust” and “X-Factor” and emphasized his extraordinary talent.

“There are only a handful of players who really notice … Zhao, if he plays like that, has that,” said Hendry and reflected O'Sullivan's recognition of Zhao's championship potential.

The winner will either compete against Williams or Trump in the ultimate showdown.