Will Zhao V Ding Draw The Biggest Tv Audience In Snooker History?

Last year, Zhao came done 4 rounds of qualifying and past defeated 2024 runner-up Jak Jones, compatriot Lei Peifan and England's Chris Wakelin earlier thrashing seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan 17-7 to scope nan final.

Zhao's 18-12 occurrence complete Mark Williams was a pivotal infinitesimal successful nan sport, instantly making nan victor a nationalist hero, and inspiring youngsters to return up snooker.

According to World Snooker Tour figures, much than 24.5 cardinal unsocial viewers watched nan 3rd convention of nan last unsocial successful China and during nan full 2025 tournament, it had a cumulative assemblage of 180 cardinal connected nationalist broadcaster CCTV5.

The arena besides had 1.5 cardinal societal media impressions successful China complete its 17 days.

"When I spell to China I'm celebrated now and erstwhile I'm stepping astir nan thoroughfare tons of group want to return pictures of me," said 29-year-old Zhao. "It's astonishing and a large quality to earlier but I'm really happy to do it and I'm trying to becoming a awesome player.

"Before, older group would want to return pictures of maine because they are snooker fans, but now it is their boy aliases girl that takes pictures - and I'm really happy for it."

If Zhao is to clasp his title, he has to do thing nary of nan erstwhile 20 first-time winners astatine nan Crucible person done, by winning it again nan pursuing year.

But Zhao showed nary signs of falling to nan alleged 'Crucible Curse' successful his first-round match, arsenic he saw disconnected English qualifier Liam Highfield 10-7.

Before nan tourney started, seven-time victor Stephen Hendry, speaking connected BBC Television, said Zhao was his favourite to assistance nan trophy connected Monday, 4 May.

"I deliberation Xintong tin clasp his title," said Hendry. "He is nan early of nan crippled for nan adjacent 10-15 years – he is going to dominate, no-one scores for illustration him.

"He is not paying immoderate attraction to this stupid 'curse'. Other Chinese players person sewage a immense assistance from seeing their countryman assistance nan trophy."