Zhao Xintong, Ding Junhui Photo: VCG

Defending champion Zhao Xintong defeated compatriot Ding Junhui 13-9 in a highly anticipated Chinese derby at the World Snooker Championship on Sunday, ending the veteran's run and advancing in front of an audience that had been eagerly awaiting the clash between two of China's most prominent cueists.

The showdown at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, the UK, had been billed as one of the headline matches of the tournament, pitting the reigning world champion against a player widely regarded as the pioneer of snooker's rise in ­China. 

Zhao ultimately prevailed after a tense contest that swung back and forth across sessions, demonstrating the calm scoring power and fluent cue action that helped him capture the world title in 2025. 

His victory keeps alive hopes of a successful title defense, a rare feat at the Crucible.

Although Ding, 10 years Zhao's senior, fell short in the encounter, the veteran's presence in the tournament once again underlined his enduring influence on the sport in China. 

Widely considered the trailblazer for Chinese snooker, Ding rose to prominence in the early 2000s and went on to become the first Asian player to reach a World Championship final in 2016.

For Zhao, the victory represents another chapter in one of the most remarkable comeback stories in modern snooker. 

Born in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province in 1997, Zhao turned professional in 2016 and quickly earned a reputation as one of the sport's most naturally gifted attacking players. 

His breakthrough came with the 2021 UK Championship title, followed by a series of ranking victories that propelled him into the elite ranks.

After serving a suspension that temporarily halted his career, Zhao fought his way back through qualifying competitions and stunned the snooker world by capturing the 2025 World Championship title, becoming the first world champion from Asia.

That triumph transformed Zhao into one of the most recognizable figures in the sport and helped accelerate snooker's growth across China. 

It was predicted that the clash between Zhao and Ding could attract one of the largest television audiences in the sport's history, with hundreds of millions potentially watching the all-Chinese encounter.

On Chinese social media platforms, many supporters described the duel as a "generational showdown," with some expressing admiration for Ding's legacy while celebrating Zhao as the sport's new standard-bearer.

"Ding opened the door for Chinese snooker, and Zhao is carrying the flag forward," one fan wrote in a widely shared comment on social media platform Sina Weibo. 

Another user described the match as "both exciting and emotional," noting that it felt like "watching history pass from one generation to another."

Others focused on the broader meaning of seeing two Chinese players competing on one of snooker's biggest stages. "No matter who wins, it's a victory for Chinese snooker," a fan commented.

The matchup itself also reflected how far the sport has come in China over the past two decades. 

When Ding first emerged as a teenage prodigy in the early 2000s, snooker was still a niche sport in the country. Today, Chinese players are a regular presence at the Crucible, and the game commands massive television audiences and a thriving grassroots scene.

As Zhao moves deeper into the tournament, the defending champion now carries not only his own ambitions but also the expectations of millions of fans who see him as the face of a new era for Chinese snooker.