Zhao Xintong may have given snooker the 147 break it needs
An ability to excel at snooker was once seen as the sign of a misspent youth. Not any more. Newly crowned king of cue sports, Zhao Xintong, collected a £500,000 (HK$5.19 million) prize after becoming China's first world champion this month. He is now a national hero.
The 28-year-old was mobbed by fans on his return to Shenzhen and spoke of his new, superstar status when visiting Hong Kong last week.
His story, which includes involvement in a match-fixing scandal, is one of rise and fall and rise again. It should be both a lesson and an inspiration for young players.
But the significance of his victory in England, watched by 150 million fans in China, goes beyond Zhao's redemption and triumph. It has been described as the most important in the sport's history.
The win is a breakthrough for China and highlights the potential for Chinese players to dominate snooker in the future. This, it is hoped, will broaden the global appeal of the sport. And Hong Kong might be a beneficiary.
Zhao, known as 'The Cyclone' because of his fast, attacking style, beat veteran Welsh star Mark Williams 18-12 in the final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield where he lives. He was given a standing ovation.
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