In an unexpected and shocking turn of events, Zhao Xintong, the reigning World Snooker Champion, has announced his immediate retirement from the sport, citing deeply personal reasons. The news has left fans around the globe stunned, worried, and heartbroken.
At just 28, Zhao defied expectations by becoming the first Chinese—and first Asian—player to win the World Snooker Championship, toppling snooker heavyweights in a fairytale run that began with his return to form after a 20-month ban (Reuters, Wikipedia). Remarkably, he achieved this as an amateur, qualifying through four grueling matches only to dominate the main draw and defeat legends such as Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Williams (Wikipedia, Reuters).
Now, just months after being lauded as a national hero and a trailblazer for the sport in China, fans received the devastating statement: Zhao is stepping away—“for personal reasons,” nothing more.
Social media imploded. On Weibo, hashtags such as “Zhao Xintong retirement” and “Cyclone Retires” trended at record levels. Emotional fan posts ranged from shock and confusion to outright sorrow. One fan lamented, “How can he leave us just when snooker needed him most?”
Veteran players and commentators were equally taken aback. Former rival turned admirer, Shaun Murphy, who previously backed Zhao’s comeback with open arms (BBC), expressed incredulity: “He’s at the top. The future was wide open. This makes no sense.”
Zhao’s rise had been nothing short of cinematic. Hailing from Shenzhen, he first burst onto the scene by winning the 2021 UK Championship, then the 2022 German Masters—two major ranking titles that shot him into the global spotlight (Wikipedia). His career was derailed in January 2023 when he received a 20-month ban for involvement in a match-fixing scandal, the result of a larger investigation affecting multiple Chinese players (Wikipedia, South China Morning Post). Yet his return was triumphant: dominating amateur Q Tour events, achieving historic maximum breaks, and culminating in the ultimate glory—the World Championship win (Wikipedia).
Industry insiders suggest the retirement may have deeper origins than Zhao’s public statement intimates. Rumors abound of mounting pressure from sponsors, mental and emotional exhaustion after months of media frenzy, and perhaps unresolved personal struggles lingering since his suspension. For a man catapulted from scandal to superstardom in under two years, the spotlight may have become overwhelming.
Snooker’s governing bodies and the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association (CBSA) have declined to comment, citing respect for Zhao’s privacy. The reigning champion’s social media accounts remain silent—no farewell video, no farewell post—just a terse announcement.
Despite uncertainty, fan sentiment remains fiercely protective. One popular comment online reads, “Whatever his reasons, we’ll wait for him. We love you, Zhao.”
In the meantime, the snooker world braces for an uncertain future. Will Zhao ever return? Can his legacy endure? And how will the sport in China fill the void left by a champion whose meteoric rise was as breathtaking as his abrupt fall into silence?