Cyclone's eye on the richest pot in history

ZHAO OUT TO CASH IN

- By Shane MacDermott

ZHAO XINTONG is set to become the richest potter on the planet after becoming China’s first world champion.

The Cyclone, 28, blew away the field as he became the first qualifier since Shaun Murphy in 2005 to win the game’s greatest prize, beating all-time great Mark Williams 18-12 on Monday night.

Ronnie O'Sullivan is the highest earner in snooker history with prize money alone around the £15million mark, before lucrative sponsorship, deals and earnings from exhibitions.

China is a massive market for snooker, with Zhao the new face of the sport.

Snooker's new superstar, who banked £500,000 by winning the title, is due to dwarf the Rocket's earnings with commercial deals alone.