In a thrilling final, Zhao Xintong defeated Mark Williams 18–12 to become the first Asian player to win the World Snooker Championship, making snooker history at the Crucible.
The 27-year-old defeated the Welsh veteran with a cool, collected performance that will go down in history. His victory not only ushers in a new era for the game on a global scale, but it also earns him an incredible winner’s prize in one of the most profitable snooker tournaments.
Williams acknowledged that he couldn’t “combat tough conditions like Zhao” on social media prior to the evening session, highlighting how difficult the afternoon had been. He has excellent cue power. He continued by stating that Zhao is “probably the best potter I’ve ever seen” and predicted that he will become snooker’s Luke Littler, demonstrating his sincere adoration.
Given how this year’s competition has combined youthful talent with a shifting of the guard, Zhao’s victory has generated a lot of excitement in the sport. Although the new champion is rightfully the center of attention, there is another discussion going on beneath the surface about the difference between the top players and the rest of the field. However, as the World Snooker Championship prize money demonstrated, the benefits are enormous for those who are able to compete at the highest level.
After winning, Zhou Xingtong made a fortune. The Chinese celebrity took home a sizable portion of the reward money.
According to talkSPORT, the majority of the £2.395 million prize fund from this year’s World Championship went to the competitors who advanced to the final stages. The winner, Zhao, received £500,000, and the runner-up, Williams, received a substantial £200,000.
Ronnie O’Sullivan, who lost to the eventual champion in the semi-finals, earned £100,000 in the process. Kyren Wilson, the defending champion, was eliminated in the first round and only received £20,000, a substantial decrease from the £500,000 he received for winning the trophy the previous year.
In contrast, Mark Allen recorded a maximum break and won an outstanding bonus despite losing in round two. In addition to receiving £45,000 for the achievement, he assisted a fan in winning £25,000 via a competition supported by a sponsor.
2025 World Snooker Championship earnings (chosen)
The player
Round
Profits
Wilson, Kyren
Initial round
Twenty thousand pounds
Selby, Mark
Initial round
Twenty thousand pounds
Murphy Shaun
Round two
£30,000
Brecel, Luca
The quarterfinal
£50,000
Higgins, John
The quarterfinal
£50,000
Allen Mark
Round two (with maximum break bonus)
£75,000.
Judd Trump
The semifinal
£100,000
Ronnie O’Sullivan
The semifinal
£100,000
Williams, Mark
Second place
£200,000
Xintong Zhao
The victor
£500,000
Since many lower-ranked or up-and-coming players are having difficulty making a living, snooker’s prize money structure has come under increased scrutiny. Those who collapse in the early stages of a tournament often receive sums that hardly cover training, travel, or lodging expenses, while well-known names and established stars earn substantial sums for lengthy tournament runs. For a sport that wants to grow internationally while simultaneously fostering the local talent it depends on, it is an increasing worry.
This arrangement emphasizes a well-known pattern in individual sports: a small number of people claim the great majority of revenues. As snooker tries to find a balance between prestige and sustainability for all of its players, the huge disparity between early exits and title contenders remains a topic of discussion, even though recognizing performance is the correct thing to do.
xz
