Zhao Xintong

Zhao Xintong is a Chinese professional snooker player, born on April 3, 1997, in Xi'an. He is best known for winning the 2025 World Championship, becoming the first Asian world champion and the first amateur to lift the trophy. His career also includes a UK Championship title in 2021 and a historic sweep of the Players Series in 2026.

As of 2026, Zhao is back on the professional tour after a 20-month ban for match-fixing, and he has quickly re-established himself as one of the sport's most exciting talents. His aggressive, fast-paced style and remarkable potting ability have made him a fan favorite worldwide. [edit]

Zhao Xintong grew up in Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi province, and started playing snooker at a young age. He showed exceptional talent early on, turning professional in the 2016-17 season at just 19. Before turning pro, he won the IBSF World Under-21 Championship in 2013, which put him on the radar of the snooker world. His early professional years were a learning curve, with flashes of brilliance but inconsistency, as he adjusted to the demands of the tour.

In his first few seasons, Zhao struggled to make a deep run in ranking events, but his natural ability was undeniable. He often impressed with his long potting and break-building, earning a reputation as a future star. His breakthrough came in 2021, but the years of grinding on the tour shaped his resilience and determination. [edit]

Zhao Xintong's career took off in 2021 when he won the UK Championship, his first Triple Crown title, defeating Luca Brecel in the final. He followed that with the German Masters title in 2022, cementing his status as a top player. However, in January 2023, he was suspended and later banned for 20 months for match-fixing, losing his professional status.

During his ban, he competed on the amateur Q Tour, winning four consecutive events and topping the 2024-25 Q Tour Europe rankings. This earned him a return to the professional tour for the 2025-26 season. He made an immediate impact, winning the 2025 Riyadh Season Snooker Championship and then the 2025 World Championship, becoming the first Asian world champion and the first amateur to win the title. In 2026, he achieved a historic sweep of the Players Series, winning the World Grand Prix, Players Championship, and Tour Championship, and became the third player ever to earn over £1 million in a single season. [edit]

Zhao Xintong is celebrated for his fearless, attacking style of play, which has drawn comparisons to legends like Ronnie O'Sullivan. His quick cue action and willingness to take on difficult shots make him a thrilling player to watch. Fans appreciate his humility and sportsmanship, and his comeback from the ban has earned him widespread respect. He has a significant following in China and internationally, with a Twitter presence under @WwwXintongzhao. [edit]

Zhao Xintong currently holds the position of the 84th most famous person from China and stands as the 19th most famous person in Anime, according to the iFANN Global Fame Rankings. These placements, which have held steady through recent cycles, reflect a global audience that has tracked his journey from amateur prodigy to world champion with intense focus. His influence extends far beyond the snooker table, resonating across digital spaces where his rapid-fire playing style and dramatic career arcs generate constant discussion. The fanbase surrounding Zhao is vast and deeply passionate, though it operates without a single formalized name like "Swifties" or "BTS Army." Instead, supporters identify simply as fans of the Chinese sensation, rallying together during major tournaments to create an electric atmosphere. This community is particularly visible on social media platforms, where coordinated campaigns celebrating his victories often garner thousands of reactions and shares. A defining moment for this group occurred during the 2026 World Snooker Championship clash against Ding Junhui, a match projected to break television viewing records globally and symbolizing the peak of Chinese dominance in the sport. While fans do not engage in extreme physical demonstrations, their digital presence is formidable, amplifying official greetings and reacting instantly to high-stakes moments like the dramatic black-ball loss in the China Open final. This event-driven loyalty underscores a deep investment in the narrative of national pride and sporting excellence that Zhao represents.[edit]

Zhao Xintong carries the nickname 'The Cyclone,' a moniker earned by his fast, aggressive playing style that leaves opponents reeling. He holds the remarkable record for the most centuries in a single UK Championship, having made 14 in 2021. An avid listener of Chinese pop music, he relies on these tracks to relax before stepping onto the green baize. In a historic first, he became the inaugural snooker player to win the World Championship while not holding a professional tour card, achieving this feat in 2025. Beyond these established facts, legends have grown around his time at the Crucible Theatre. The story of his 18-12 victory over Mark Williams remains the definitive chapter of his career, universally cited as the breakthrough that shattered previous ceilings for Asian players. Fans also retell the cultural mythology surrounding his 2026 showdown with Ding Junhui, a matchup hyped as a potential record-breaker for television audiences that symbolized the passing of the torch. More recently, folklore has taken root around the August 2026 China Open final, where a thrilling black-ball situation led to a dramatic loss against Zhang Anda. This incident, with its emotional aftermath and controversial nature, serves as a counter-narrative to his earlier triumphs, illustrating the high stakes and pressure of being the defending champion.[edit]

Zhao Xintong is known to be private about his family. He was born in Xi'an and has mentioned in interviews that his parents supported his snooker ambitions from a young age, though he rarely shares details about them publicly. As of 2026, he is not married and has no children, focusing fully on his snooker career. [edit]

Zhao Xintong is associated with the World Snooker Tour and has played against top players like Judd Trump, Mark Williams, and Ding Junhui. His rivalry with Ding Junhui, another Chinese star, has captured the imagination of snooker fans in China and beyond. [edit]

Zhao Xintong keeps his personal life out of the spotlight. There is no public record of any romantic relationships, and he has not been linked to anyone in the media. As of 2026, he appears to be single and fully dedicated to his snooker career. [edit]

As of 2026, iFANN currently estimates Zhao Xintong's net worth at $2 million. This figure reflects a career trajectory that has seen earnings surge following his unprecedented World Championship win and his historic sweep of the Players Series in 2026. In that same year, he became the third player in history to earn over £1 million in a single season, joining the distinguished ranks of Judd Trump and Ronnie O'Sullivan. While prize money remains the primary driver of his wealth, endorsement deals and appearance fees also contribute significantly to his income, though specific figures for these contracts remain private. His financial standing has been bolstered by his return to the professional tour after a 20-month ban, demonstrating how quickly he has re-established himself as one of the sport's most marketable talents.[edit]

Zhao Xintong has won several major snooker titles, including the 2021 UK Championship, the 2022 German Masters, and the 2025 World Championship. He also claimed the 2025 Riyadh Season Snooker Championship and swept the 2026 Players Series events. [edit]