By Elliott West
“Still can not believe it I have won UK Championship! Thanks for everyone’s big support. I will keep working hard and keep playing entertaining snooker”.
Zhao Xintong reacting to his 2021 UK Championship victory.
Introduction
History was made at this year’s UK Championship as the 24-year-old, Chinese player, Zhao Xintong was crowned its victor in York. So where did this naturally gifted player emerge from who defeated Luca Brecel 10-5 and who is now a snooker superstar as a result? Far from being a coincidence, Zhao has been around for a long time, someone who first picked up a cue, aged nine and instantly fell in love with this fascinating cue sport. As a child, he played the likes of Steve Davis and Mark Williams in exhibition matches in China and once made two centuries in a row in front of a packed crowd against Williams.
Career
Quickly considered as being one of the players to watch out for, Xintong was born in the province of Shaanxi, China and turned professional in 2016. A winner in the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, defeating Hossein Vafaei 4-2 and the 2018 Macau Masters, he was also runner-up at the IBSF World Snooker Championship in 2013 and 2015. However, he first caught the media’s attention in 2012 at the Zhangjiagang Open where he beat the likes of Xiao Guodong, Kevin McMahon and Yu Delu to reach the last 16 of the event. He then narrowly lost in his next match to Stephen Lee 4-3. He would then go to reach the second round of the Yixing Open and the Zhengzhou Open in the Asian Tour.
Zhao as a wildcard entrant defeated Ken Doherty at the 2012 International Championship in Chengdu, China to reach the last 32, losing to Matthew Stevens 6-5, a progression that was repeated in the World Open and China Open in 2013, losing to Stuart Bingham 5-2 and Ali Carter by the same scoreline. Such was his danger as a wildcard that he was dubbed the Wildcard Menace.
When he played Steve Davis at the 2013 International Championship, he thrashed the former world champion 6-1. Steve was so impressed that he later commented saying:
“This boy was astonishingly good and better than anybody I have ever seen at that age – and that includes Ronnie O’Sullivan”.
Steve Davis
Zhao had a good run at the 2017 German Masters, reaching the last 16, losing to Ali Carter 5-4 but then fell off the tour, having to regain his place via Q School. A place gained by defeating Dechawat Poomjaeng in the second event final. However, he didn’t have to wait long for further success as he would go on to reach his first career semi-final at the 2017 China Championship, beating Matthew Stevens, Anthony McGill, Fergal O’Brien, Mark Williams and Barry Hawkins before losing to Mark Selby 4-6. He also reached the quarter-finals of the 2019 Welsh Open, losing 2-5 to Stuart Bingham and the first round of the 2019 World Championship, losing 7-10 to Mark Selby. Most recently he has also reached the quarter-finals of the 2020 German Masters.
The Man Himself
Zhao Xintong is probably one of the most exciting players I have seen for a very long time. He reminds me of a young Jimmy White. A flair player who isn’t afraid to play the attacking shot and tries to pot his first red at the earliest opportunity. Like a ballet dancer, he drifts amongst the balls, potting the colours faster than they are replaced. Within minutes he has already won a frame and often keeps his opponent cold in his chair.
I would liken him to a smiling assassin, this player whose nickname is ‘The Cyclone’, oozes class and especially for a player so young. He is grounded and despite having difficulty finding a hotel room before the UK Championship final, still managed to provide a snooker feast in the final. He is fearless and that is what makes him so dangerous. A player who I feel if he carries on this way could win numerous titles, joining Ding Junhui and Yan Bingtao as the leading lights in Chinese snooker.
