The title of Zhao Xintong’s Snooker’s historical championship is set to promote even greater heights in China and aroused predictions that the country could come to dominate the sport.

Left 28-year-old beat Mark Williams At Sheffield’s Cross theater on Monday to become the first Asians to clinic the largest Snooker price.

Lobster Celebrated by drapting the Chinese flag on his shoulders and at home he has been greeted as a national hero, his victory going viral on social media in the country.

His 20-month suspension in 2023 for his small involvement in a betting scandal, with nine other Chinese Snooker players also banned, is largely forgiven.

“My phone has not stopped to occupy with calls from the media and parents,” Zhang DongtaoChief Trainer at the World Snooker Academy based in Beijing – who trained most China stars, including Zhao – said Zhao – AFP.

Snooker was long characterized in China by smoke -filled rooms and was considered a pastime for empty drifters, deceived by parents as a waste of time compared to school studies.

But the sport has flourished since an 18-year-old Ding junhui Hyrst on stage two decades ago, beating Stephen Hendry to win China Open.

Many Chinese professional players, including Zhao, quote them to inspire them to get the sport.

The Chinese make up ten of the 32 leading players in the world, and China boasts more than 300,000 Snooker or Billiardo clubs, from 34,000 to 2005, state media outlets.

An industry report by Shangqi Consulting praised the country’s billiards market, which includes Snooker, in 37 billion yuan (£ 3,86bn) in 2023 and predicted it could be doubled in the coming years.

‘Incredible work ethic’

At the World Snooker Academy in Beijing, a copy of the master trophy, another of the most coveted snooker prices, sits on the screen as inspiration.

“All our focus is on training young people to help them get rid of bad habits in their lives and their Snooker technique, and absorb positive influences during their years of development,” said Chief Zhang.

Competition is essential for training, with the academy holding six internal tours every semester.

While Snooker still lacks prestige in China of Olympic events such as table tennis and Badminton, there has been a “dramatic change” in stays in the last two decades, Zhang said.

“The Chinese market is big. Investors are abundant, they can sponsors some shifts, and the price money for the races is too high.”

With qualifying events for the main Snooker tours almost all held in Britain, Chinese players usually go overseas after returning professional.

Many end up in Sheffield in northern England, some reached up to 17 years old to pursue their Snooker dreams.

Zhao trains at the Snooker Academy led by China, just a short walk from Crucible.

“Chinese players’ work is just extraordinary,” Lucky Vatnani, manager of Snooker Academy Ding Junhui, also in Sheffield, said AFP.

“They play seven days a week, from 10am to 6 pm. I don’t see many English players doing it.”

“Their sole purpose is to play snooker”, He added Chinese players.