Ronnie O'Sullivan has been issued a warning about new world champion Zhao Xintong
Zhao Xintong's breathtaking performance in winning the 2025 World Snooker Championship at the Crucible has solidified his place as the newest sensation in snooker.
The 28-year-old's fearless and fluid attacking game has led many to compare him to Ronnie O'Sullivan, and according to Irish snooker legend and former world champion Ken Doherty, the Rocket's recent semi-final defeat to Zhao might become more common if the Chinese superstar maintains his current form.
That said, Doherty pinpointed a flaw in Zhao's otherwise impressive arsenal. While he applauded the champion's skill and ambition, declaring: "He's the real deal. He could do anything he wants, as Stephen Hendry said, he can dominate the game," he warned that Zhao's "naive" inclination to attempt risky pots could hinder his consistency.
"He was sort of pushing the boat out and playing a lot of strange shots [during the World Snooker Championship]," Doherty told Gambling.com. "He was desperate to get over the line, but he wanted to keep to his own philosophy of trying to go for the pots, no matter how difficult they were."
Though his relentless play earned him a landmark win over O'Sullivan en route to the world title, Doherty suspects this strategy could hurt Zhao in shorter match formats. "It worked well for him, but in the shorter matches, he might struggle to find consistency," Doherty said.
He urged Zhao to follow Judd Trump's example - developing greater tactical awareness without sacrificing his scoring ability. If Zhao begins "just adding new little dimensions or facets to his game," then he could "win a lot of tournaments and possibly another couple of world titles," Doherty added.
Ken Doherty won the world title in 1997
As Zhao's star continues to rise, O'Sullivan faces a fresh test to his era of dominance. Still, Doherty has faith in the English legend's enduring quality.
"Ronnie has a lot more to give in the game, there's no doubt about that," he said. "He's an amazing, talented player who's been dominant for 30 years basically, at the top of the game.
"He's won everything. He's created and broke his own records. But he has a new star [Zhao] to deal with now. There's no doubt about that."
Doherty thinks Zhao could dominate snooker, but needs to cut the naivety out of his game
Doherty also praised veterans like John Higgins and finalist Mark Williams, suggesting they, alongside O'Sullivan, "will still have something to say over the next two to three years." But Zhao's courage and O'Sullivan-esque flair, in Doherty's view, equip him to "carry the baton", and to do it "very, very well."
While Zhao revels in his hard-earned championship, Doherty's remarks underline the need for strategic development. Should the newly crowned king of snooker refine his decision-making, he could not only rival O'Sullivan's achievements but reshape the sport's competitive landscape.
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