Match -Fixing scandal to the Tiegel Champion -Autumn and Promotion of Zhao

Zhao Xintong started after a match fixing scandal from Snooker this season, but will be the new “megastar” of sport after being the first Chinese player to win the World Cup.

The 28-year-old, who only lives 10 minutes on foot from the Crucible Theater event location in Sheffield, followed Terry Griffiths and Shaun Murphy as the only feeling of qualification for the largest price of Snooker since the 1977 tournament after South Yorkhire.

His 18-12 victory over Mark Williams on Monday means that he is also the only amateur who claims the world championship title in the Tiegel era and the youngest winner since Murphy in 2005.

Zhao, who comes from Xi'an in North Central China, moved to Great Britain in 2016 and appeared in the third ranking final of his career.

“Winning the championship is the big dream for the Chinese snooker,” said Zhao, before standing against Mark Williams three times in the final.

“When I was eight to ten years old, it was my first time to play Snooker, and from that moment [to get to this point]. If you want to become a good player, you have to do this [move away from home]Although it is very difficult. “

He won the British championship in 2021 and the German champion in 2022, but his burgeoning career was abruptly stopped when he sanctioned one of 10 players from China after an examination of the game fixation in 2023.

Zhao did not take a game directly, but he accepted the indictment of participating in another player to repair two games and bet on games himself, and he was banned for the crimes.

He returned to the campaign on the amateur q tour in September and won events in Manchester, Sweden, Austria and Belgium, while he also qualified for the British championship, but lost in the first round against Shaun Murphy.

At the World Cup, Zhao had to progress through four qualification rounds and then reached the semi -finals in 2024 crucible finalist Jak Jones, Lei Peifan and Chris Wakelin.

Zhao, who, with the nickname “The Cyclone” with the seven -time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan with the nickname “The Cyclone” with a session in the past four years, lacks his 46 victory in 48 games since his return from his ban.

As a result of his suspension, Zhao lost his place on the World Snooker Tour (WST) and his professional status, although he has secured his card to return to the elite tour in the next term.

'Slate Clear' or would the title win be clouded?

The match fixing case threw a shadow about sport in China.

A world finals delivered an almost immediate shot in redemption after Jason Ferguson – Chairman of Gouvering Body the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) – was described as a “heartbreaking” episode in which the former Masters Champion Yan Bingtao was also involved.

The nature of this violation, however, means that some in the game believe that it could spoil the celebrations of a long -awaited Asian world champion.

“Zhao's ban was served and it is completely entitled to compete again, but I have confused the floral language a little in view of the circumstances,” said Nick Metcalfe, Snooker journalist.

“I was on the night when he picked up the British title, and the announcer called the words: 'A star is born.'

“So this is not a newcomer to the Snooker public. Sometimes it has the feeling that timing is sometimes not convinced that the timing for sport is ideal for the sport of Zhao, which gains the world championship title.

“As soon as the ban, some headlines – certainly outside the Snooker bladder – could be the last thing the sport needs.

“We all assumed that a first Chinese world champion would be a special moment for everyone in the game, almost a moment of unfaithful joy, but I am sure that this will not be the case now.”

In contrast, Barry Hearn, President of Matchroom Sport, said a large part of the professional game: “He banned a ban on what some people would call a very minor crime.

“He is a high -quality player and I think he is a nice young man. Rules are rules and they take it on the chin. If you make a mistake in life, don't look back, you are looking forward to the front.

“If you have paid a price for something, the slate is clear, otherwise you have no life forever.”

Snooker's new “megastar”?

Since the turn of the century there has been a British winner in Crucible every year, apart from 2010 and 2023, when the Australian Neil Robertson and Belgium Luca Brecel raised the trophy.

But the popularity of Snooker in China has defeated the seven -time world champion Stephen Hendry since a shy ding Junhui to win the China Open in 2005 two days after his 18th birthday.

This encounter was observed by a registered television audience of 110 million people in the country, and since then the hopes of the nation have largely rested on a first world champion on the shoulders of thing, who was second in Mark Selby in 2016.

After his semi -final loss, O'Sullivan emphasized that China finally had a player with the talent and temperament in Zhao to fulfill this ambition.

“I think it would be amazing. If he wins, he would be a megastar,” said O'Sullivan.

“He is still very big in China. But if he becomes world champion, it would be just amazing for snookers and also for his life. He can definitely come across the line.”

The World Cup final was available for every television household in China on CCTV5, and World Snooker expected a potential audience of up to 150 million.

China is the largest market of Snooker in the television landscape and makes up more than 50% of its global audience.

John Parrott, who won the Crucible in 1991, said: “We have been talking about it for years.

“Ding was tight and a real ambassador for China, but imagine what Zhao will do for the game there.

“It was a phenomenal performance. It is brilliantly talented. It looks no fatigue.