Stephen Hendry reveals snooker star who will be ‘fuming' at Zhao Xintong's Worlds win
Stephen Hendry believes Ding Junhui may be "fuming" after Zhao Xintong became the first Chinese world champion in snooker. Zhao, 28, shocked the world after defeating seasoned pro Mark Williams in the World Snooker Championship final on Monday, securing an 18-12 victory over the Welsh star.
His triumph concluded a sensational campaign at the Crucible where Zhao bagged 111 frames over nine matches during a 29-day period that included his qualifying rounds.
The young Chinese player's remarkable journey also featured a semi-final win against the legendary Ronnie O'Sullivan. Although China will undoubtedly be celebrating their new world snooker hero, Hendry suspects Ding - long seen as the face of Chinese snooker - may be grappling with mixed emotions.
As a pioneer for the sport in his homeland, Ding carried the torch for Chinese snooker for years, achieving three UK Championships and a Masters victory. However, the elusive prize of a World Championship victory at the Crucible still remains out of his grasp, with his closest shot being a runner-up finish in 2016 against Mark Selby, reports Wales Online.
Reflecting on Ding's probable feelings about not being the first from his nation to clinch a World Championship, and based on his impressive track record, Hendry opined that Ding would likely feel a sense of personal disappointment. The seven-time world champ told the Snooker Club podcast: "It'll be really interesting to see what Ding's thinking.
"He's been the benchmark for Chinese snooker. He will be fuming. If it was me I'd be fuming. The fact is that Ding is snooker in China, Ding Junhui is snooker. Overnight he is not Mr Snooker anymore.
"It might spur him on, who knows, but it's something that's going to be difficult for him to handle, actually." He added: "If it was me, I'm Ding Junhui, I'm not happy tonight.
"I don't know Ding well, maybe he's close to Zhao and he's delighted for him. But if it was me I'm thinking, 'I'm not happy that I've had so many years to do it, I haven't managed to do it, this guy's come along after being out of the game for two years and just done it, qualified and done it.'
"He's now the man in China. There's a huge exhibition circuit, huge invitational tournament circuit apart from the ranking tournaments. Ding has to be there, Ding has to be involved, Ding is often one of the co-promoter and it's all about Ding.
"It's not going to be like that. There's a whole new outlook to it now, so it will be interesting to see the dynamics." Ding secured a 10-7 victory over Zak Surety in his first match at the Crucible this year before taking on Belgian prodigy Luca Brecel in round two.
However, his run was cut short by the former world champion with a 13-4 defeat. Despite being outshone by fellow countryman Zhao, the gracious player took to social media to celebrate the star's triumph in Monday's final, writing: "Congratulations to Zhao Xintong for winning the World Championship.
"I said before, 'I am very happy to see that the threshold I broke in the past has now become everyone's runway!' And today, someone finally reached the finish line on this runway!
"This moment of glory is the best reward for the Chinese fans who have been supporting Chinese snooker and waiting for this day! The darkness we once walked through, it was all so that people could see the light. Today Zhao Xintong did it!
"What he won is the shared dream of generations of Chinese snooker players. I'm happy for you and proud of the rise of Chinese strength!"
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