Zhao Xintong lands new job away from snooker after £500k World Championship win

 The Chinese player is becoming a global superstar after his superb triumph at the Crucible.

Zhao Xintong celebrates his world championship win

Newly crowned world snooker champion Zhao Xintong has landed a new role away from the sport just weeks after his stunning success in Sheffield. Zhao became the first amateur to win at the Crucible after outclassing three-time champion Mark Williams in the final.

His 18-12 win followed him ruthlessly dispatching another icon, Ronnie O’Sullivan, 17-7 in the final four. The Chinese star is now being tipped to compete at an elite level for years to come, and is targeting becoming a Triple Crown champion, having previously won the UK Championship. His triumph signified a remarkable comeback after his 20-month ban for his involvement in the match-fixing scandal, having returned to action in September last year.

He did not directly fix a match himself, but did accept charges of being party to another player who fixed two matches and placed bets on matches.

He’s now aligned himself with BYD Global. The China-based company, whose headquarters are in Shenzhen, is involved in mass production and is most renowned for producing automobiles and electric vehicle batteries.

The company made the announcement on social media, writing: “Thrilled to welcome 2025 World Snooker Champion Zhao Xintong as BYD Champion Ambassador!

Zhao was mobbed by fans after returning to China from Sheffield

“From the precision of the snooker table to the innovation of new energy vehicles, we share the same relentless pursuit of excellence - always pushing boundaries, always striving for more. Together, we're writing the next chapter of greatness!”

While Zhao has signed a deal with the company in his homeland, he remains banned from playing in the country. While the World Snooker Tour downgraded his initial 30-month suspension to 20, the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association upheld the original sanction.

That means he cannot play tournaments in China until July 1, 2025. Regardless, the star was given a hero’s welcome at the airport when he arrived back home after becoming world champion, with hundreds of people cheering and holding signs up in support of the 28-year-old.

He’s now regained professional status and is ranked No.11 in the world. Prior to his ban, ‘The Cyclone’ reached as high as sixth following his UK Championship win in 2021.