Mark Williams left in the shade as former professional snooker star banks over £500,000
Mark Williams left in the shade as former professional snooker star banks over £500,000
Mark WIlliams came second best to Zhao Xintong at the World Snooker Championship this year, but his earnings from the tournament pale compared to one ex-pro's recent payday
Mark Williams finished as a runner-up at the World Snooker Championship
(Image: undefined via Getty Images )
Mark William's £200,000 prize pot for finishing as a runner up at the World Snooker Championship has been outshone by a former professional's recent payday.
The Class of '92 star battled it out with Zhao Xintong until the end in the tournament's grand finale earlier this month, but ultimately couldn't match the Chinese sensation - who won 18-12 to clinch his first world title.
And while Williams will have been wounded not to have only missed out on a fourth World Championship but also the £500,000 cash prize that accompanies it, the payday pales compared to the one Niu Zhuang just landed.
The 30-year-old - who competed professionally between 2017 and 2019 thanks to his emphatic performances on the Chinese tour - has turned to Heyball since his exit from the world stage, recently clinching the JOY Heyball Masters in Chengdu and the £518,000 prize that comes with it.
The Chinese star emerged victorious through a field of more than 600 competitors, playing for the full 22-day duration of the tournament en-route to a 23-11 win over fellow countryman Zhang Taiyi in the final.
Heyball, a hybrid cue sport played in an eight-ball format on a smaller snooker table, has seen a surge in popularity in recent years.
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Several renowned snooker stars have participated in JOY events, with Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry even spotted alongside some of the sport's top players recently.
Niu Zhuang won £518,000 at the JOY Heyball Masters
(Image: (Image: Getty) )
While Niu's financial gain from the Heyball Masters surpassed Zhao's earnings from his World Championship win, the same can't be said for the runner-up, Zhang.
The Chinese star reportedly received a £151,000 runners' up prize to Williams' £200k for his efforts in Sheffield, reports the Express.
Zhao's victory in the World Snooker Championship in May, as an amateur, defied all odds. The 28-year-old triumphed over seasoned players like Chris Wakelin and O'Sullivan, winning a staggering 111 frames across nine matches over 29 days to clinch the title with a win over Williams.
Zhao Xintong won the World Snooker Championship earlier this month
(Image: (Image: Getty) )
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However, his victory stirred controversy among snooker fans. Despite serving a suspension from the sport until last September, Zhao is expected to rise to 11th in the world rankings when the professional tour resumes later this year.
In January 2023, Zhao was among several players suspended following a match-fixing investigation. Although he didn't fix any matches himself, he confessed to betting on games, resulting in a 20-month ban.
On the other hand, Niu didn't meet expectations during his two-year professional career in the sport, leading to his relegation from the tour in 2019. His best result as a professional came with a final 32 place at the German Masters in 2018.
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