Beijing: China’s Zhao Xintong became the first Asian player to win the World Snooker Championship after defeating veteran Mark Williams 18-12.

According to Lao News Agency, Zhao expressed disbelief at his historic win, stating, “I can’t believe it. It’s like a dream.” Zhao earned his place at the championship after serving a 20-month ban for breaching betting regulations, making his victory all the more remarkable. He secured his spot by winning four qualifiers as an amateur.

The 28-year-old showcased dominant performance during the competition. Sunday’s first two sessions saw Zhao leading 11-6, and he extended his advantage to 17-8 during the third session on Monday. Despite a strong comeback attempt by the 50-year-old Williams, who won four consecutive frames at the start of the final session, Zhao clinched the title by winning the 30th frame with a break of 87.

Zhao’s journey to the championship began with his first qualifying match on April 7. He won an impressive 111 frames across nine matches, culminating in his world champion title. Williams praised Zhao’s performance, saying, “What an opponent he is. I’ve got nothing but admiration for what he has done.”

With this victory, Zhao will enter the next season as the world No. 11, and there are now nine more Chinese players in the world’s top 32. Prior to Zhao’s triumph, Ding Junhui was the first Asian to reach the final at the World Championship in 2016, where he was defeated by Mark Selby.