Zhao Xintong has written his name into snooker history after becoming the new world number one, with his remarkable rise also drawing admiration from one of the sport’s biggest legends, Ronnie O’Sullivan
The Chinese star reached the summit during the Wuhan Open after defeating Neil Robertson 5-1 in the quarter-finals. The result proved decisive because Judd Trump, who had occupied the number-one position for two years, was eliminated by Chang Bingyu on the same day.
Zhao’s achievement is particularly significant because only 13 players have held the world number-one position since the modern ranking system was introduced in 1975. He is also only the second Chinese player to reach the top, following Ding Junhui.
The 29-year-old produced an impressive performance against Robertson. Zhao immediately established control of the quarter-final, opening with breaks of 106 and 91 to move 2-0 ahead. Robertson managed to respond in the third frame, but Zhao quickly regained his composure and won the next three frames to complete a convincing 5-1 victory.
That victory guaranteed Zhao the biggest ranking achievement of his career.
It was another extraordinary chapter in the Chinese player’s career. Zhao had already enjoyed one of the sport’s most remarkable comebacks after returning to professional snooker and subsequently winning the World Championship in 2025. His rise to number one now gives him another major milestone to celebrate.
O’Sullivan’s connection to Zhao has also attracted attention. The English legend remains one of the most influential figures in snooker, and Zhao has spoken positively about learning from him. TNT Sports reported that Zhao described the opportunity to learn from O’Sullivan as a special honour.
For Zhao, reaching number one was not simply about rankings. It represented the culmination of years of work and a rapid rise back towards the very top of the sport.
Interestingly, Zhao did not initially appear overwhelmed by the achievement. After beating Robertson, he said he felt “quite calm” about becoming number one and suggested that he might appreciate the accomplishment more when he reflected on it later.
He also made it clear that reaching the summit was not the end of his ambitions. Zhao acknowledged that he still had a long way to go before considering himself a truly top-level player and indicated that winning more major titles would be among his future goals.
The Wuhan Open itself ultimately produced another historic moment for Chinese snooker. Zhao reached the final, where he faced fellow Chinese player Chang Bingyu in an all-Chinese showdown.
Chang eventually produced a stunning performance to defeat Zhao 10-7 and claim the first ranking title of his career. The victory was sealed dramatically in the deciding frame, with Chang producing a remarkable clearance to secure the trophy.
Despite losing the final, Zhao had already achieved the most important ranking breakthrough of his career. He remained the newly crowned world number one after the tournament, while Chang celebrated his maiden ranking-event triumph.
The outcome also marked the latest step in the growing influence of Chinese players on professional snooker. With Zhao at number one and Chang winning the Wuhan Open, the tournament underlined the increasing strength of the sport in China.
For O’Sullivan, the emergence of Zhao represents another fascinating development in a sport where the Englishman has spent decades at the highest level. O’Sullivan has won seven World Championship titles and remains one of the most decorated players in snooker history.
Now, Zhao has reached a positio once occupied by O’Sullivan himself.
The Chinese star’s journey from promising talent to world champion and now world number one has been remarkable. His admiration for O’Sullivan adds another interesting layer to the story, particularly as the younger star looks to learn from one of the greatest players the sport has ever produced.
Zhao’s coronation at the top of the rankings therefore represents more than just a change at number one. It signals a new chapter for snooker — and potentially the beginning of an era in which Zhao Xintong becomes one of the sport’s defining figures.
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