Since his stunning victory at the Crucible Theatre last year, Zhao Xintong's life has transformed in ways both exhilarating and demanding. The Chinese snooker star, known as 'The Cyclone', has experienced the stark contrast between chasing the title and defending it, admitting the mental battle is now profoundly different.
The Weight of the Crown: From Hunter to Hunted
Zhao Xintong's spectacular win at the 2025 World Snooker Championship saw him defeat legends like Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Williams with apparent ease. However, the 28-year-old confesses that returning to the tour as the reigning champion has brought a new kind of struggle. The sky-high expectations have translated into significant pressure, with Zhao managing just one ranking semi-final this season, despite a victory at the invitational Riyadh Season Championship.
"Definitely I have more pressure," Zhao told Metro. "I know every top player can control that and enjoy it on the table, so I'm learning to do that." He describes a fundamental shift in mentality. Last year at the Crucible, he was the lower-ranked player with nothing to lose, purely fighting. Now, he enters every match as the world champion, with a target on his back. "Everybody wants to beat me. Everything is different," he said, calling the experience "very interesting" yet undeniably tough.
Embracing the Spotlight and Life in Sheffield
Amidst the sporting pressure, Zhao is savouring the rewards of his success. He has become a huge star in China, enjoying invitations to fashion shows and events he never previously attended. In the UK, his status has opened new doors, including a trip to meet players at Manchester City, the club he supports due to compatriot Sun Jihai's historic stint there.
Although City lost 0-2 to Bayer Leverkusen during his visit, Zhao cherished the fan atmosphere. Away from snooker, he follows tennis and table tennis, expressing particular admiration for Chinese Olympic gold medallist Zheng Qinwen. Zhao splits his time between China and Sheffield, where he lives with his girlfriend, citing the city as his "lucky place" and hoping the World Championship remains at the Crucible beyond its current 2027 contract.
Conquering the Crucible Curse and Masters Challenge
Attention is already turning to whether Zhao can break the infamous 'Crucible Curse'—where no first-time champion has successfully defended their title since the tournament moved to Sheffield in 1977. "No, I don't want to think about that," he stated, wary of adding extra pressure. When asked if the curse is real, however, he was unequivocal: "Yeah. It's very real!"
His immediate focus is the Masters at Alexandra Palace, which begins on Monday, January 12. Having already won the World and UK Championships, victory here would complete snooker's coveted Triple Crown. He faces Gary Wilson in his opening round, seeking better memories than his 2-6 defeat to John Higgins in his only prior appearance in 2022.
Zhao's strategy is to treat every tournament the same, attempting to minimise the weight of expectation. "I try to play the Championship League like I do at the Masters," he explained, highlighting his ongoing journey to manage the psychological demands of being the sport's top-ranked player while striving to enjoy the game that made him a champion.
