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Historic Zhao Xintong World Championship win watched by more than double UK population in China
Zhao Xintong received monumental support from fans back home in China during his World Snooker Championship title win. The 28-year-old beat three-time champion Mark Williams 18-12 at the Crucible Theatre on Monday night to make history in the sport. Zhao became a history-making world snooker champion on MondayAFP Zhao became the first Asian player and first amateur to ever win the prestigious tournament in just his third appearance. The Chinese star is also set to rise to 11th in the world rankings next season courtesy of his stunning performance at the table. Many snooker fans around the world would have tuned into the final session to witness the historic victory. But as reported by The Guardian, a staggering 150,000,000 people watched the action from his native China. While it’s only a little over ten per cent of the country’s population, the figure is staggering when compared to the United Kingdom. Around 68,400,000 live in the UK, meaning more than double our inhabitants watched nearly 5,000 miles away in China. Zhao beat Jak Jones, Lei Peifan, Chris Wakelin and Ronnie O’Sullivan en route to the final. He was seemingly storming to victory by holding a 17-8 lead heading into the final session, putting him one frame away from glory. Williams fought back by winning four consecutive frames, but it wasn’t enough to spark a miraculous comeback for the Welshman. Zhao, who won the UK Championship in 2021, unsurprisingly cut a shocked figure after he became world champion. Millions of fans in China watched him storm to victoryGetty The 28-year-old held his nerve to get the job done at the CrucibleGetty “This is like a dream,” he said to the BBC. “I can’t believe it. There was big pressure and big nerves. I knew if I missed he could come back quickly. “I was so nervous tonight. Mark is still a top player and put me under so much pressure. He’s the best.” Zhao, who was was relegated to amateur status after being hit with a 20-match suspension for his involvement in a match-fixing scandal, has pocketed a huge £500,000 in prize money with his title. And Williams appeared blown away by his quality as he admitted: “Unfortunately I was just never in the final from day one. I was behind from the start and could not get into it. “I said that if I could get out of the first session at 5-3 down it would have been a result, but I was 7-1 down and it was a bit far for me to get back. “I’ve got nothing but admiration for what he’s done, coming through the qualifiers. He hasn’t played for two years, bashed everybody up. There’s a new superstar of the game.”
Zhao Xintong received monumental support from fans back home in China during his World Snooker Championship title win.
The 28-year-old beat three-time champion Mark Williams 18-12 at the Crucible Theatre on Monday night to make history in the sport.
Zhao became the first Asian player and first amateur to ever win the prestigious tournament in just his third appearance.
The Chinese star is also set to rise to 11th in the world rankings next season courtesy of his stunning performance at the table.
Many snooker fans around the world would have tuned into the final session to witness the historic victory.
But as reported by The Guardian, a staggering 150,000,000 people watched the action from his native China.
While it’s only a little over ten per cent of the country’s population, the figure is staggering when compared to the United Kingdom.
Around 68,400,000 live in the UK, meaning more than double our inhabitants watched nearly 5,000 miles away in China.
Zhao beat Jak Jones, Lei Peifan, Chris Wakelin and Ronnie O’Sullivan en route to the final.
He was seemingly storming to victory by holding a 17-8 lead heading into the final session, putting him one frame away from glory.
Williams fought back by winning four consecutive frames, but it wasn’t enough to spark a miraculous comeback for the Welshman.
Zhao, who won the UK Championship in 2021, unsurprisingly cut a shocked figure after he became world champion.
“This is like a dream,” he said to the BBC. “I can’t believe it. There was big pressure and big nerves. I knew if I missed he could come back quickly.
“I was so nervous tonight. Mark is still a top player and put me under so much pressure. He’s the best.”
Zhao, who was was relegated to amateur status after being hit with a 20-match suspension for his involvement in a match-fixing scandal, has pocketed a huge £500,000 in prize money with his title.
And Williams appeared blown away by his quality as he admitted: “Unfortunately I was just never in the final from day one. I was behind from the start and could not get into it.
“I said that if I could get out of the first session at 5-3 down it would have been a result, but I was 7-1 down and it was a bit far for me to get back.
“I’ve got nothing but admiration for what he’s done, coming through the qualifiers. He hasn’t played for two years, bashed everybody up. There’s a new superstar of the game.”
