On April 3, 2005, the then-18-year-old snooker player Ding Junhui won the inaugural China Open, a glorious moment witnessed by Zhao Xintong, a budding snooker enthusiast who had only recently picked up a cue for the first time.
He was celebrating his 8th birthday that night. "I kept imagining back then - what would it feel like to stand on that champion's podium one day?" Zhao later recalled.
ALSO READ: China's Zhao Xintong becomes first Asian to win World Snooker Championship
Ding, who would go on to be celebrated as China's first snooker superstar, added three UK Championship wins and the 2011 Masters to his legacy. "Growing up, my dream was to become someone like Ding," a 17-year-old Zhao confessed in the documentary Becoming Ding Junhui, where he was featured as a promising young snooker talent.
However, in Beijing's early hours on Tuesday, the 28-year-old southpaw didn't just follow in Ding's footsteps - he carved his own name into history. With an 18-12 victory over three-time world champion Mark Williams of Wales at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre, Zhao became the first Asian player ever to win the World Snooker Championship.
Zhao's unexpected triumph fulfilled a dream that had eluded his trailblazing compatriot Ding, who narrowly missed the title in 2016.That year, Ding became the first Asian player to reach the World Championship final, but fell short against England's Mark Selby.
On Chinese social media platform Weibo, Ding hailed Zhao's victory as "the best reward for Chinese snooker fans who have long supported the sport".
The hashtag "Zhao Xintong Wins World Championship" amassed over 130 million views by Tuesday afternoon, trending among the platform's hot topics.
After the final session, the vanquished Welshman praised Zhao: "What a potter he is though. I've got nothing but admiration for what he's done, coming through the qualifiers.He hasn't played for two years, and he bashed everybody up. There's a new superstar of the game."
Seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan has never hidden his admiration for Zhao - not even after suffering a decisive 17-7 semifinal defeat to the Chinese star in Sheffield last week.
"Zhao deserved his victory. I think he's done brilliantly all tournament," said O'Sullivan.
Born in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, Zhao moved with his family to the bustling metropolis of Shenzhen during his childhood.
An only child, young Zhao initially enjoyed playing table tennis and soccer. That changed when his father gave him a shortened cue at age six to try hitting balls - unexpectedly, he demonstrated remarkable hand-eye coordination, quickly potting simple shots with natural ease.
As his fascination with the game grew, his parents converted a room in their home into a practice space with a full snooker table, and later scouted the country for coaches to develop his talent.
"He would spend entire days practicing alone at the table, even forgetting to eat,"recalled his mother.
In 2005, at just eight years old, Zhao made waves in the country's snooker community by compiling a 107 break in a local amateur tournament held in Xi'an.
His dedication and innate ability convinced his parents to fully commit to supporting their son's snooker ambitions.
With such unwavering family support, a 17-year-old Zhao once reflected: "I feel like the luckiest young player in snooker."
In late April 2013, a 16-year-old Zhao made his international debut, representing China at the 29th Asian Snooker Championship in Pakistan. That same year, he enrolled in a professional snooker academy.
By 2016, he officially launched his professional snooker career.
Zhao's journey from first picking up a cue to world champion in his first Crucible final hasn't been without controversy.
The 2021 UK Championship winner competed as an amateur while completing his comeback from a 20-month suspension for his involvement in a betting scandal that saw ten Chinese players suspended in 2023, with two receiving lifetime bans.
Zhao's relatively short suspension reflected his cooperation with investigators and the fact that, while he placed bets, he wasn't involved in match-fixing.
During his suspension, Zhao underwent counseling provided by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association to address psychological challenges and character weaknesses, supported throughout by loyal fans.
"That period taught me humility - and the real meaning of this sport," he recalled.
Returning to competition in September 2024, Zhao participated in the World Championship as an amateur, before his official return to the professional tour this season.
The watershed win in the world championship propels Zhao to World No 11, among a record nine Chinese players in snooker's top 32.
