Final yr, Zhao got here by way of 4 rounds of qualifying after which defeated 2024 runner-up Jak Jones, compatriot Lei Peifan and England’s Chris Wakelin earlier than thrashing seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan 17-7 to succeed in the ultimate.
Zhao’s 18-12 success over Mark Williams was a pivotal second within the sport, immediately making the winner a nationwide hero, and galvanizing kids to take up snooker.
In keeping with World Snooker Tour figures, greater than 24.5 million distinctive viewers watched the third session of the ultimate alone in China and through the entire 2025 match, it had a cumulative viewers of 180 million on nationwide broadcaster CCTV5.
The occasion additionally had 1.5 billion social media impressions in China over its 17 days.
“Once I go to China I am well-known now and after I’m strolling across the avenue numerous folks wish to take photos of me,” stated 29-year-old Zhao. “It is wonderful and an enormous distinction to earlier than however I am actually comfortable to do it and I am attempting to changing into a fantastic participant.
“Earlier than, older folks would wish to take photos of me as a result of they’re snooker followers, however now it’s their son or daughter that takes photos – and I am actually comfortable for it.”
If Zhao is to retain his title, he has to do one thing not one of the earlier 20 first-time winners on the Crucible have performed, by profitable it once more the next yr.
However Zhao confirmed no indicators of falling to the so-called ‘Crucible Curse’ in his first-round match, as he noticed off English qualifier Liam Highfield 10-7.
Earlier than the match began, seven-time winner Stephen Hendry, talking on BBC Tv, stated Zhao was his favorite to raise the trophy on Monday, 4 Could.
“I feel Xintong can retain his title,” stated Hendry. “He’s the way forward for the sport for the following 10-15 years – he’s going to dominate, no-one scores like him.
“He’s not paying any consideration to this silly ‘curse’. Different Chinese language gamers have gotten an enormous raise from seeing their countryman raise the trophy.”
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