World snooker champion Zhao Xintong: Who is China's new megastar?

"It is very good for Chinese snookers and I am very happy I have done this for them. I am so proud of myself. Now this will give children in China power and in the future many Chinese players can do this."

Relief, joy, wild ambition and calm reflection from Zhao Xintong on his historic achievement, a few moments after being crowned men's snooker World champion and picking up a cheque for $660,000 by conquering three-time champion Mark Williams. 

Inside Sheffield's Crucible Theatre in northern England, the crowd rose to their feet cheering the sport's new "megastar" as many pundits and fans are calling him. Zhao looked stunned and emotional as he clung tightly to the gleaming trophy and a huge Chinese flag draped around his shoulders.

He had to come through four qualifying matches to even make the tournament. He demolished his idol and seven-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan in the semi-finals, with his success completing a stunning world double for China. Last year Bai Yulu became the first Chinese winner of the women's World championship, and she will defend her title in her homeland this month.

After the match on Monday, Welshman Williams said: "I'm glad I'll be too old when Zhao is dominating the game. I've got nothing but admiration for what he's done. He's bashed everybody up. There's a new superstar of the game. 

"This is what snooker needed, someone like him coming through. It is bound to open doors. It will be front page on every news outlet going."

With a record 10 Chinese players qualifying for the televised stage of the World Championship this year, the murmurings of a potential Chinese champion have been growing louder.

China has had to be patient. It all started when trailblazer Ding Junhui beat seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry to win the 2005 China Open. That match was watched by a TV audience of 110 million in the country and sparked an explosion in snooker's popularity – and it must have been heartbreaking to see their man lose to Mark Selby in the 2016 world final. 

Nine years later, the moment finally came. The World final this year was available to every TV household in China on CCTV5, with governing body World Snooker expecting an audience of around 150 million. The country is also the sport's biggest market, making up over half of its global audience. 

Chinese fans would have been celebrating in the early hours after seeing Zhao overcome his late wobbles – needing just one frame for victory, he lost four successive frames.

Jason Ferguson, chair of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, revealed his thoughts on Zhao's huge potential to CGTN Europe.

"We have a national hero," Ferguson said. "Another national hero, of course, after Ding Junhui – he was the one that paved the way. Ding created an abundance of talent that want to follow in his footsteps. 

"We now have this young man Zhao who's rewritten the history books. He has entered snooker immortality. The sky's the limit. This boy will set new records in this sport and he has the potential to be the richest snooker player in history."

Zhao Xintong factfile

· Born: Xi'an in Shaanxi province in northwestern China
· Nickname: The Cyclone
· Career: Three ranking titles
· Record breaker: First Asian to win men's World Championship
· Results: This win was his 47th from 49 matches this season
· First amateur to win the world title

What pundits and players said about Zhao

Steve Davis (six-time World champion): "Every time anybody put anything up to him, he responded. He's a big occasion player with one of the classiest actions we've seen in the modern day game. He seems a popular player and he's getting lots of good headlines. He could be massive.”

Mark Williams (three-time World champion): "Xintong is going to be a national hero now. He'll be on the front page of every news outlet going and I'm sure there are Chinese companies ready to throw zillions at him. It's great for our sport to have someone at the top who is so attacking and so young."

Ronnie O'Sullivan (seven-time champion): "He will be a megastar."

John Parrott (1991 World champion): "Ding has been close and a real ambassador for China, but Zhao being in the final means the viewing figures will be off the charts. Just imagine what it will do for the game over there."

Jimmy White (six-time World finalist): "This kid can win multiple World Championships. We've all known about him and he's just proved it. At ease, he's won this World Championship in probably third to fourth gear."

Praise from Ding

On Chinese social media platform Weibo the hashtag 'ZhaoXintong wins world championship' had 120 million views soon after his victory and was among the top-trending stories.

Ding Junhui, who has his own academy in Sheffield, hailed his compatriot's achievement.

"Zhao Xintong did it! What he won is the shared dream of generations of Chinese snooker players," he said on Weibo. "I'm happy for you and proud of the rise of Chinese strength!"

Compatriot Si Jiahui, who reached the semi-finals of the 2023 World championship and also practises in Sheffield, congratulated "Brother Tong".

"I'm learning from you! My idol has changed!" he said on Weibo.

Much much more is about to change for China's new hero of the baize.