Sad News: Snooker World Champion Zhao Xintong Reveals Illness Affected His Vision — Return to Competition Postponed Indefinitely.

Sad News: Snooker World Champion Zhao Xintong Reveals Illness Affected His Vision — Return to Competition Postponed Indefinitely.

 

 

Snooker world champion Zhao Xintong has revealed that a serious illness has affected his vision, leaving him unable to clearly see the full length of the snooker table — a critical impairment in a sport that depends heavily on precision and visual accuracy. As a result, Zhao has made the difficult decision to postpone his return to professional snooker indefinitely.

This shocking news has sent ripples through the global snooker community, especially as Zhao had recently made a remarkable comeback to the sport. After serving a 20-month suspension due to a disciplinary issue involving match-fixing — which he has publicly addressed and expressed regret over — Zhao returned in triumphant fashion, winning the 2025 World Snooker Championship and making history as the first Chinese player to claim the title.

However, in a recent interview, Zhao opened up about a persistent health struggle that many fans were unaware of. He disclosed that he has been battling a vision problem for quite some time, one that had become progressively worse and ultimately unmanageable. At its most severe, the illness left him unable to accurately judge the length of the table — a devastating challenge for any professional player.

“I couldn’t see properly, even when I won major titles like the UK Championship and the German Masters,” Zhao said. “I had laser eye surgery to try and fix the problem, but it hasn’t fully resolved.”

The decision to step away from the sport — even temporarily — is clearly not one Zhao took lightly. Known for his sharp cue control, tactical intelligence, and calm demeanor at the table, Zhao has been one of the sport’s most promising stars. His victory at the Crucible earlier this year appeared to signal a new era, not just for him personally, but for Chinese snooker as a whole.

Yet now, with his health taking priority, his immediate future in the game remains uncertain. Zhao has not set a timeline for his return, saying only that he needs time to recover and assess whether a full return is possible.

Fans and fellow professionals have expressed their support across social media, with many sharing words of encouragement and praising his honesty and courage in confronting both personal and professional challenges so openly.

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) has not yet released an official statement regarding Zhao’s condition, but sources close to the player say he will be focusing on treatment and rest in the coming months.

This development is a sobering reminder of the physical and mental demands of professional sport — even one like snooker, where physical endurance may not be as obvious as in others, but where visual acuity and mental clarity are absolutely vital.

As Zhao steps back to focus on his health, the snooker world waits — hopeful that this champion will once again return to the table, stronger and healthier, when the time is right.