World Snooker Championship: Chinese hero Zhao Xintong 6-1 to retain his Crucible crown

A Chinese winner of the World Snooker Championship has been long anticpated and Zhao Xintong is 6-1 with Coral and Ladbrokes to retain the maiden Crucible crown that he secured with Monday’s victory over Mark Williams.

Zhao produced a dominant display against three-time champion Williams, winning 18-12 to become the first Asian player and amateur to triumph in the Sheffield extravaganza.

The 28-year-old had to win four qualifiers before reeling off victories over Jak Jones, Lei Peifan, Chris Wakelin, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Williams to rewrite history and give China a moment which is expected to send the sport in that country stratospheric.

Zhao had been a best-priced 16-1 to win the World Championship once he had sealed his place in the main draw, while runner-up Williams on offer at 50-1 following a stop-start season.

The Chinese player won the UK Championship in 2021 and the German Masters in 2022, but received a 20-month ban in 2023 following an investigation into match-fixing and has had to redefine his way to the top.

The cool customer became the third qualifier to triumph at the Crucible after Terry Griffiths in 1979 and Shaun Murphy in 2005 and victory will see him start next season as the world number 11.

Williams, champion in 2000, 2003 and 2018, is 20-1 to go one place better in 2026 while world number one Judd Trump, the player the Welshman defeated 17-14 in a thrilling semi-final, heads next year’s betting at 4-1.

O’Sullivan, having also made the final four in his first competitive tournament since January, is 6-1 to land a modern-day record eighth World Championship title next May..

Kyren Wilson, a first-round casualty to Peifan in the defence of his maiden World Championship crown, is 8-1 alongside four-time champion Mark Selby.

Zhao's success could fuel the fire for his Chinese compatriots and Ding Junhui, Si Jiahui and Xiao Guodong are all 33-1 with Coral and Ladbrokes to follow in his footsteps next season, with fellow up-and-comer Wu Yize a 40-1 chance.

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