Zhao Xintong beat all comers to be crowned Asia's first snooker world champion, and one fellow pro has outlined how he stands out even among the elite
Ronnie O'Sullivan has been told precisely where Zhao Xintong reigns supreme
Newly crowned snooker world champion Zhao Xintong has received waves of plaudits in light of his Crucible crown, perhaps none more flattering than that offered by Elliot Slessor. And the Newcastle-based snooker star has the right to pass judgment after giving the first Asian world champion perhaps the toughest run for his money in Sheffield.
Zhao, 28, decimated mentor figure Ronnie O'Sullivan 17-7 in the semi-final of the tournament before a similarly dominant 18-12 win over Mark Williams in the final. But it was during the qualifying stage of the competition that Slessor held the new titleholder to a narrow 10-8 result. The pair faced off in the deciding round of that phase at the English Institute of Sport, known as Judgement Day. And after giving Zhao arguably his hardest match of the competition, Slessor was among the first to outline what sets the Chinese champion apart from the rest.
"I said it then and will say it again," he wrote on X. "I’ve played them all [and] nobody pots balls like this kid.
"The consistency in the long game and to make tough shots look easy is staggering. Congratulations to Xintong and Victoria’s Snooker Academy. Incredible stuff."
Judd Trump was the favourite to lift the trophy at the Crucible but was knocked out by Williams in the semis. That's despite setting a new record for centuries in a single season and looking every bit worth his frontrunner status in the earlier stages.
Slessor, 30, may have failed to make the main draw but did so against worthy opposition, to say the least. When asked if he was proud of his performance against Zhao, he displayed understandable regret before pouring more praise on the new champ.
Elliot Slessor came off second-best to Zhao in qualifying for the World Snooker Championship
"I wanted to win," replied the world No. 28 alongside a crying-with-laughter emoji. "But the boy is very special every credit to him congratulations."
Zhao came into the tournament as an amateur, having served a 20-month suspension for betting-related offences.
'The Cyclone' was punished as part of a WPBSA investigation into a match-fixing ring that saw 10 Chinese players either suspended or banned from the sport altogether. Zhao was found to be in breach of "being party to another player fixing two matches," as well as betting on matches himself.
Nonetheless, many are glad to see one of the brightest talents in the sport back competing after serving his time on the sidelines. Six-time world champion Steve Davis called his ban "a stain" on Zhao's reputation but said the superstar "deserves a second chance."
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