Zhao Xintong has risen to world No. 5! Tonight he will compete in the Welsh Open, facing Fan Zhengyi in the first round.

On February 24th Beijing time, following the end of the Snooker Players Championship, the updated world rankings show Chinese star Zhao Xintong defeating Higgins 10-7 and claiming £150,000 in prize money. His ranking rose from seventh to fifth. The Welsh Open begins tonight without pause, and Zhao Xintong chooses to compete again, facing Fan Zhengyi in a derby clash in the opening round—what a tireless worker!

Just after finishing the Players Championship, Zhao Xintong delivered peak performance once more. Against the seasoned and resilient Higgins, Zhao was trailing and struggling to catch up early on. But after reaching 6-7, he unleashed a barrage of precise shots, overwhelming Higgins who was left helpless. Zhao capitalized on every chance without any mistakes, giving Higgins no opportunity and leaving him frustrated. Ultimately, Zhao won 10-7, clinching back-to-back titles at the Grand Prix and Players Championship. He is the first player to achieve this feat and can be considered the strongest snooker player in the world today, no longer fearing the greats from the 1975 and 1980 eras!

This championship brought Zhao Xintong great rewards beyond the prize money. The £150,000 prize also boosted his ranking by two spots, surpassing Murphy and Higgins to reach fifth place. The gap to fourth-ranked Mark Williams is narrowing. It is believed that Zhao will win more titles in the future and aim for world number one, as long as he can maintain his current form steadily!

The Welsh Open is now underway without interruption. Zhao Xintong has successfully advanced to the main draw and will face fellow Chinese player Fan Zhengyi next. This is a highly anticipated match. Everyone knows Fan once defeated O'Sullivan to win the European Masters but then fell into a slump without any further ranking titles. Therefore, if Zhao plays normally, he has a very strong chance of winning given his hot form. However, due to continuous competition, Zhao must be physically and mentally tired, adding some uncertainty to the match. Let’s wait and see!

Written by / Sports Fiction