Zhao Xintong wins World Snooker Championship, makes history for Asia

Zhao Xintong made history by becoming the first Asian and first amateur player to win the World Snooker Championship, defeating three-time champion Mark Williams 18-12 at the Crucible in Sheffield. Zhao's victory is particularly notable given his comeback from a 20-month ban for involvement in a match-fixing scandal, which had previously cost him his professional tour card. Despite Williams, at 50 the oldest finalist in Crucible history, mounting a strong comeback in the final session, Zhao held his nerve to clinch the title with a decisive break of 87. Zhao's win marks a significant moment for Chinese snooker, as he becomes the country's first world champion and fulfills long-standing predictions about his potential. His triumph comes after navigating four qualifying rounds and defeating several top-ranked players, including Ronnie O'Sullivan in the semifinals. The victory is seen as both a personal redemption for Zhao and a boost for snooker's popularity in China, its largest television market.