Zhao Xintong became the second Chinese player to reach the top of the world snooker rankings after defeating Australia’s Neil Robertson 5-1 on Thursday at the Wuhan Open, according to reports from Yahoo Sports. The victory places the 2025 world champion at the summit of the sport, ending Judd Trump’s two-year reign at number one following Trump’s 5-1 defeat to Chang Bingyu in the last eight.
Zhao Xintong Secures World Number One Spot in Wuhan
Zhao secured his rise to the top ranking with a dominant 5-1 quarter-final win over Neil Robertson at the Wuhan Open, according to Yahoo Sports. During the match, the 29-year-old compiled breaks of 106, 91, 113, and 54 to comfortably dispatch his opponent. With this ascent, Zhao joins Ding Junhui as the only players from China to achieve the world number one ranking. Ding previously held the top spot during two brief periods between December 2014 and February 2015.
“At the moment, I probably haven’t really had the chance to fully take it in or savour it. I think after tomorrow, I’ll probably start to feel it more,” Zhao told Yahoo Sports regarding the milestone. “Becoming world number one was definitely one of my dreams when I was growing up.”
Tournament Context and Semi-Lineup Following Trump’s Exit
Judd Trump’s two-year tenure at the head of the rankings concluded in the quarter-finals after a 5-1 loss to Chang Bingyu, opening the door for Zhao’s historic climb, according to Yahoo Sports reporting. Zhao, who has captured six ranking titles over his career, advances to face Xiao Guodong in the semi-finals. Xiao booked his place in the last four by defeating Mark Williams 5-3.
On the opposite side of the draw, seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan advanced to the semi-finals with a 5-3 victory over fellow Englishman Mark Selby, as detailed by Yahoo Sports. After dropping the opening two frames of the best-of-nine match, O’Sullivan rallied to win five of the next six frames, featuring breaks of 87, 96, 72, an 80 in a maximum 147 attempt during the seventh frame, and a closing run of 129. The 50-year-old O’Sullivan will next face 24-year-old Chang Bingyu in the semi-finals.
Player Perspectives on the Rankings Shift
Reflecting on his status and future objectives within the sport, Zhao noted that reaching the pinnacle of the rankings does not mark the end of his competitive ambitions. “Even now, after winning some ranking titles and becoming more settled mentally, I feel like being world number one isn’t necessarily my ultimate goal,” Zhao said, via Yahoo Sports. “But for a professional player, it’s certainly a very rare and special honour.”
Looking ahead to the remainder of the Wuhan Open, Ronnie O’Sullivan highlighted the strength of the younger generation currently contending in the tournament, offering praise for Chang Bingyu’s recent form. “You have Zhao Xintong and Wu Yize, but this kid is up with them,” O’Sullivan told Yahoo Sports. “He was storming through the season… You probably have to say he is favourite to win the tournament.”