Zhao Xintong can land £100k cash bonus as Judd Trump showdown set

 Zhao Xintong will have the opportunity to rake in a huge amount of money.

Zhao Xintong will have the chance to match Judd Trump's remarkable achievement

Zhao Xintong will have the opportunity to secure a £100,000 payday as he looks to build on his World Snooker Championship triumph. Earlier this month, he became the first Asian player to secure Crucible glory with victory over Mark Williams in the final. Zhao was rewarded with the iconic trophy in addition to a whopping £500,000 in prize money.

He was not the only player to secure a massive financial boost, with Judd Trump also raking in a hefty chunk. The man from Bristol made his 100th century break of the season during his second-round win over Shaun Murphy. It saw him land the £100,000 sum laid on for any player who makes a century of centuries in a single campaign.

Trump took home £100,000 after making a century of centuries in 2024/25

Trump is one of only two players to have passed the 100-century milestone in the space of one season. He previously did so in the 2019/20 campaign, when he landed 102 centuries, while Neil Robertson managed a whopping 103 in 2013/14.

Zhao, meanwhile, will be hoping to join that exclusive club next season. He made a total of 18 century breaks at the World Snooker Championship, including the qualifying rounds and main draw, equalling the record set by Ding Jinhui in 2016.

He will want to play as many tournaments as possible next season, having returned from a lengthy ban shortly before heading to the Crucible. Two years ago, he received a suspension lasting 20 months for his involvement in a match-fixing scandal.

Since returning to the table, Zhao has shown that he could easily be a contender for the £100,000 bonus. Only time will tell if he can send a firm warning to Trump by matching his incredible achievement in the 2025/26 campaign.

Zhao recently landed a new role away from snooker, just weeks after his stunning success at the Crucible. He has aligned himself with BYD, a Chinese company known 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!

“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. His initial ban of 30 months was downgraded to 20 by the WST but the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association upheld the original sanction.

It means he cannot play tournaments in his native China until the start of July, when the initial ban expires