Xi'an snooker player makes history

On May 6, Zhao Xintong, born in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, became the first Asian player to win the World Snooker Championship final.

Zhao Xintong wins the championship. [Photo/IC]

The World Snooker Championship represents the highest level of snooker competition. Until now, the best performing Chinese player at the event was Ding Junhui, who made it to the final in 2016 but fell short against Mark Selby from the UK.

Chinese players have now become strong force in the snooker world. They accounted for 10 of the 32 spots at this year's World Championships, setting a record for the highest number of participants in history.

It was Zhao Xintong who stole the show though, beating snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan in the semi-final and winning the trophy in the final against three-time world champion Mark Williams with an 18-12 victory.

Zhao Xintong in the final. [Photo/IC]

Overwhelmed by his achievement, Zhao, draped in a Chinese flag, said, "I can't believe what I've done. It's like a dream. I was so nervous tonight – Mark is still a top player and put me under so much pressure. He's the best. This is a very special moment for me, for Chinese snooker, for everyone."

Today, an increasing number of competitions in Shaanxi province are providing a platform for young players to exchange and improve their skills. According to Zhang Jiufeng, chairman of Shaanxi Billiards Association, this year's provincial-level competitions are being held throughout the year.

"We believe that Zhao's championship will drive the development of billiards in Shaanxi province and Xi'an. We will promote the sustained and rapid development of snooker and contribute to the development of Shaanxi sports and the Chinese billiards industry," said Zhang.