07-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
China's snooker king Zhao Xintong on fame, Wang Chuqin and blowing prize money on watches
Zhao Xintong has said he was still coming to came to terms with the 'unimaginable' achievement of becoming world snooker champion, but that was not stopping him thinking about how to spend the £500,000 (HK$5.18 million) prize money.
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China's newest sporting star claimed one of the game's grandest titles in Sheffield on Monday, beating Mark Williams 18-12 to become the first Asian player to win at the Crucible Theatre.
An estimated 150 million people watched in mainland China as Zhao beat the three-time champion Williams, sparking a new wave of snooker fandom.
Speaking to the Post on Tuesday, the 28-year-old said he had 'slowly begun to realise' the scale of his achievement.
'I've had lots of media attention, and lots of celebrities have congratulated me,' he said.
Asked whether a month ago he could have imagined winning the tournament in the Yorkshire city where he lives and trains, Zhao said he 'didn't think about it, although I believed I was at that level'.
