'Cyclone' Zhao blows away Williams

Amateur's world title heralds a revolution

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Zhao Xintong was hailed as snooker's "new superstar" after winning the World Championship with an 18-12 victory against Mark Williams that heralded a Chinese revolution in the sport.

Zhao's fairytale triumph at Sheffield's Crucible on Monday was a watershed moment for snooker.

The sport's popularity in China has grown exponentially over the past two decades, helped by the success of Ding Junhui, who served as an inspiration for Zhao.

Ding lost the 2016 World Championship final to Mark Selby, but Zhao ended the wait for a first Asian male world snooker champion with a sublime display against three-time winner Williams.

The 28-year-old is just the third qualifier to win the title since the World Championship moved to the Crucible in 1977.

Zhao is the youngest world champion since Shaun Murphy, who won aged 22 in 2005.

He is the first amateur player to win the world title, having lost his tour card in January 2023 for his part in a match-fixing scandal.

That controversy threatened to derail Zhao's promising career when he was hit with a 20-month ban.