As the Champion of Champions tournament kicks off on January 2, China’s snooker season for 2025 comes to a close. Although Ding Junhui remains on a protected status, Zhao Xintong’s strong comeback keeps China’s hopes for titles alive. Over the year, Zhao, alongside Xiao Guodong and Wu Yize, won four major championships, including the prestigious World Championship, surpassing Ding Junhui to become Asia’s new top player.
Season highlights: Zhao Xintong defeated Mark Williams 18-12 to claim the World Championship and later beat Robertson 5-2 at the Riyadh Masters. Xiao Guodong narrowly defeated Gary Wilson 10-9 to win the Wuhan Open, while Wu Yize captured his maiden title at the National Championship, 10-6 over The Wizard. Xiao Guodong and Bai Yulu also secured two gold medals at the Chengdu World Games, showing the depth of China’s snooker talent.
At 38, Ding Junhui remains at his peak, yet his extensive commercial commitments prevent him from focusing solely on the table. Zhao Xintong’s rise, along with emerging post-2000 players, marks a new era for Chinese snooker. This new chapter is built upon the foundation Ding laid years ago in the UK. As he said after Zhao’s World Championship win: “I am glad that the barriers I broke became a runway for other players to sprint forward.”
