Latest news with #cueSports
South China Morning Post
17-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
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.
Arab News
11-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Jeddah to host World Pool Championship and Snooker Masters this summer
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia's sporting calendar continues to expand with the announcement that Jeddah will host two major cue sports events in July and August 2025, the World Pool Championship and the Snooker Masters. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The tournaments are part of a landmark ten-year strategic partnership between the Saudi Billiards and Snooker Federation and Matchroom, in collaboration with the World Nineball Tour (WNT) and the World Snooker Tour (WST). The events are being organized under the supervision of the Saudi Ministry of Sports and are set to feature top international players from around the world. Returning to the Kingdom for the second consecutive year, the World Pool Championship will take place from July 21 to 26, 2025, at the Green Halls in Jeddah. The tournament will gather the world's top 100 players competing for a total prize pool of $1 million. Among the headline names are current world champion Fedor Gorst of Russia, 2023 champion Francisco Sanchez Ruiz of Spain, and five-time US Open winner Shane Van Boening of the United States. Following shortly after, the Snooker Masters will run from August 8 to 16, bringing together 128 of the world's top professionals alongside 16 emerging Saudi talents, who will participate via special wild card invitations. With a total prize pot of £2 million ($2.66 million), the tournament ranks as the second most lucrative event on the 2025 World Snooker Tour calendar and is widely regarded as the fourth most prestigious event in the sport. Commenting on the announcement, Nasser Al-Jaweeni, President of the Saudi Billiards and Snooker Federation, said: 'We are pleased to launch this partnership that places the Kingdom at the heart of global billiards and snooker, reflecting international confidence in Saudi Arabia's organizational capabilities and offering an opportunity to develop local talent and nurture a new generation of Saudi players.' Emily Frazer, CEO of Matchroom Sport, praised the Kingdom's efforts. 'We are proud to return to the Kingdom as part of this inspiring partnership. Last year, we witnessed outstanding organization and an exceptional experience for the players, which raised professional standards and opened doors for the next generation of talent,' she said. Steve Dawson, Chairman of the World Snooker Tour, described the hosting of the Snooker Masters as a landmark moment. 'Saudi Arabia's hosting of the Snooker Masters marks a significant milestone in the sport's history. The impact was evident from the very first edition, and we're all excited to see Saudi players rise through the ranks in the years ahead,' he said.
