Zhao Xintong

Zhao Xintong, born on April 3, 1997, in Bao’an, Shenzhen, China, is a professional snooker player. His early exposure to snooker began at age eight in Shenzhen, a region with a strong snooker culture. He developed a quick-firing style early on, even using roller skates to reach the snooker table during practice. Zhao’s parents supported his passion, setting up a snooker table at home when he was ten and allowing him to drop out of middle school in 2009 to train full-time. This early dedication laid the groundwork for his future career in professional snooker.

Zhao Xintong turned professional in the 2016–17 season and quickly made his mark. He achieved his first ranking title at the 2021 UK Championship, defeating Luca Brecel 10–5, which elevated him into the top 16 of the snooker world rankings. Following this, he won the 2022 German Masters with a 9–0 whitewash over Yan Bingtao, becoming one of only three players to win a two-session ranking final by whitewash. These victories solidified his position as a rising star in the sport, earning him a career-high ranking of world number six in May 2022. However, his career faced a setback in 2023 when he was suspended due to a match-fixing investigation.

After a 20-month suspension, Zhao Xintong made a notable return to competitive snooker in September 2024. He competed on the amateur Q Tour, winning four consecutive events and securing a new two-year professional tour card for the 2025–26 season. As an amateur, he entered the 2025 World Championship and advanced through qualifying rounds to reach the main stage. He went on to win the championship, defeating Mark Williams 18–12 in the final. This historic win made him the first Chinese player, the first Asian player, and the first amateur to win the World Snooker Championship, marking a significant turning point in his career and placing him 11th in the world rankings upon his return to the professional tour.