Zhao Xintong Becomes World Number One After Dismantling Robertson in Wuhan
The Rise of a New King
Zhao Xintong is snooker's new world number one. The 2025 world champion sealed the historic ranking with a commanding 5-1 demolition of Neil Robertson in the Wuhan Open quarter-finals, and the Chinese star now stands at the very pinnacle of the sport he has spent the last few years quietly but emphatically conquering. Judd Trump's two-year reign at the top is over — and a new era has well and truly begun.
Zhao becomes only the 13th world number one in snooker history and just the second player from China to hold the position, following in the footsteps of compatriot Ding Junhui, who occupied the top spot for two brief spells between December 2014 and February 2015. At 29, and with six ranking titles already to his name, Zhao's ascent feels less like a surprise and more like an inevitability that has finally caught up with the record books.
Robertson Swept Aside, Trump Follows
The manner of the win over Robertson was as convincing as the scoreline suggests. Zhao compiled breaks of 106, 91, 113 and 54 to move past the Australian with something approaching ease. Robertson, a four-time world champion and one of the most accomplished players of his generation, had no answer to a performance that was clinical, controlled and utterly assured. When you're making centuries almost to order against opposition of that calibre, you deserve every ranking point that comes your way.
To compound the seismic shift at the top of the rankings, Trump's own quarter-final ended in a 5-1 defeat at the hands of rising Chinese star Chang Bingyu. Two of snooker's heavyweights removed in the same session — it's the sort of evening that reshapes conversations about where the sport is heading.
Zhao himself was measured about the achievement in his post-match comments. "At the moment, I probably haven't really had the chance to fully take it in or savour it," he said. "Becoming world number one was definitely one of my dreams when I was growing up. But for a professional player, it's certainly a very rare and special honour." That's the kind of composed, grounded response you'd expect from someone who has already been through more than most players twice his age.
Semi-Final Picture: Zhao, O'Sullivan and a Star in the Making
Zhao now faces Xiao Guodong in the last four, after Xiao edged out Mark Williams 5-3. Remarkably, Zhao is on course to win the Wuhan Open for a third successive year — a feat that would cement his status not just as world number one on paper, but as the dominant force in the game right now.
On the other side of the draw, Ronnie O'Sullivan came from 2-0 down to beat fellow Englishman Mark Selby 5-3, reeling off five of the next six frames in typically irrepressible fashion. The Rocket knocked in breaks of 87, 96, 72 and an 80 in a 147 attempt before closing out with a run of 129. At 50 years old, O'Sullivan continues to defy logic — but it was his comments about his next opponent that caught the attention.
O'Sullivan will face Chang Bingyu in the semis, and he was effusive in his praise for the 24-year-old. "You have Zhao Xintong and Wu Yize, but this kid is up with them," O'Sullivan said. "He's here in the semi-finals and maybe he is going to win a trophy. You probably have to say he is favourite to win the tournament." High praise from a seven-time world champion — and worth noting for anyone looking at the markets.
Betting Angle: Who Wins the Wuhan Open?
With the semi-finals set, the market is wide open. Zhao heads into his match with Xiao as the form player in the tournament and arguably in the entire sport right now, but Xiao is no pushover and has the experience to make it competitive. On the other half, O'Sullivan's class is undeniable, yet Chang has already dispatched Trump and O'Sullivan himself has flagged him as a genuine contender.
The Pick: Zhao Xintong to win the tournament. The world number one — fresh from making that title official — at home in China, playing the best snooker of his career, going for a hat-trick of Wuhan titles. That's a compelling narrative backed by cold, hard form. Check Bet365 and Betway for the tournament winner market and look for Zhao in the 6/4 to 2/1 range depending on timing. Each-way options on Chang at bigger prices are worth a look too if you want some upside cover.
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