In a sport deep-seated in tradition and history, a new era may have begun in snooker after Zhao Xintong became the first Chinese winner of the snooker World Championship.
Zhao defeated veteran three-time champion Mark Williams 18-12 in Monday’s final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England.
The 28-year-old, also the first amateur to win the world title at the Crucible, came into the second day of the two-day final with an 11-6 overnight lead and extended that to 17-8 during the afternoon session, meaning he needed just one frame for victory in the evening.