Holy crap, what a moment for snooker. I've been covering this sport for 15+ years and never thought I'd see the day when China would claim its first world champion - especially not like THIS.

Let me tell you something. When Zhao Xintong lifted that trophy last night after demolishing Mark Williams 18-12, I couldn't help but think about the absolutely wild journey he's been on. Eight months ago, this guy couldn't even enter a tournament. Now he's pocketing £500,000 and making 150 million people back home lose their minds.

The Ban That Almost Ended Everything

Back in 2023, Zhao was caught up in that massive match-fixing scandal that rocked the sport. Ten Chinese players got booted off the tour. My colleague texted me when it happened: "Chinese snooker is dead for a generation." Poor guy couldn't have been more wrong.

Here's the thing - Zhao didn't actually fix matches himself. The 58-page report (yes, I read the whole damn thing during a red-eye flight to Sheffield) showed he placed bets for his buddy Yan Bingtao. Still wrong, still against the rules, but he got the lightest punishment of the bunch - 20 months instead of 30 because he admitted everything right away.

During his ban, Zhao was literally pushing his fluffy Pom-Shi dog around Shanghai in a pram. Not even making this up.

Wait... an AMATEUR just won the Crucible?!

Technically, yes. Since Zhao's ban ended in September, he's been competing as an amateur. The guy doesn't even have a pro card yet will be ranked 11th in the world next season. Madness.

I watched every frame of his semi-final destruction of Ronnie O'Sullivan (17-7!). Hadn't seen anyone dismantle the Rocket like that since... well, maybe ever. Ronnie looked shell-shocked afterward, muttering something about "the future" before disappearing.

The Numbers Are Absolutely Bonkers

Let me hit you with some stats that'll make your head spin. Since April 8th, Zhao has:

- Won NINE consecutive matches (including 4 qualifiers) - Prevailed in 111 out of 172 frames - Won 47 out of 49 matches since September 20th - Become the youngest world champion in two decades

And get this - he lives a 10-minute walk from the Crucible. Literally strolled home with half a million quid and the trophy. Life is strange sometimes.

Poor Williams Never Stood a Chance (Or Did He?)

I've always had a soft spot for Mark Williams. The Welsh Potting Machine (who's apparently contemplating eye surgery next month) came into the final day 11-6 down. History said that was too big a gap to close.

By mid-afternoon, Zhao was up 17-8 and everyone thought it was over. Then Williams won FOUR straight frames in the evening session! The crowd went absolutely mental. For about 25 minutes, we all believed we might witness the greatest comeback in Crucible history.

Nope.

Zhao stepped up with an 87 break in frame 30 and that was that. Game over.

The £700 VIP Ticket That Almost Bought You One Frame

Gotta feel for teh folks who shelled out £700 for VIP tickets to the evening session. They thought they might see just one frame before Zhao wrapped it up. Instead, Williams' mini-comeback gave them four frames of drama. Still not great value at £175 per frame, but hey, they witnessed history.

What Happens Next?

This feels like one of those pivotal moments in a sport. Like when Woods won the Masters in '97 or when Federer started dominating tennis.

I remember chatting with Steve Davis back in 2018 when he predicted China would have a world champion within a decade. "They'll take over the sport eventually," he told me over a pint that cost £7.50 (London prices, ugh). He was right on the money.

The reaction in China has been insane. My friend in Beijing says Zhao is suddenly bigger than some movie stars there. Snooker tables are selling out across the country.

The Messiah or the Very Naughty Boy?

That's the question, isn't it?

To millions in China, Zhao is their first sporting hero in this traditionally British game. To many others, especially some old-school players I've spoken with, they can't get past the corruption ban.

I'm still processing it myself. The attacking style, the fearless long potting, the ice-cold temperament... it's been thrilling to watch. But there's always that nagging feeling about his past.

One thing's certain - snooker will never be the same again. The Chinese Revolution is here, and it's wearing waistcoats.