Snooker world champion Zhao Xintong has shared his ongoing health struggles that cause dizziness and impact his vision during matches. The 28-year-old defeated snooker icons Ronnie O’Sullivan and Kyren Wilson en route to clinching the World Championship title in May.
His dominant 18-12 triumph over Mark Williams in the final at the Crucible marked him as China’s first-ever world champion, setting high expectations for his performance this season.
However, Zhao has encountered challenges in achieving positive results recently. At the Northern Ireland Open, he faced an unexpected early exit in the first round against Jordan Brown, who secured a convincing 4-0 victory. Zhao attributed his subpar snooker form to a health scare that emerged during the Xi’an Grand Prix two weeks ago, although he is now showing signs of improvement.
Expressing his struggle, Zhao stated, “A few days ago, I was unwell, but I am determined to recover. It has been a tough journey.” He mentioned experiencing difficulties concentrating due to medication side effects, leading to dizziness when playing, especially with long pots. Despite the setbacks, he remains optimistic about his return to form, emphasizing his commitment to learning and improving in the challenging sport of snooker.
Known as ‘The Cyclone’ for his rapid snooker style, Zhao is set to make a comeback at the upcoming International Championship in Nanjing, China, where he will compete against Oliver Lines in the opening round. Following his world championship victory, Zhao has secured lucrative sponsorships with renowned brands, enhancing his reputation in the sport and solidifying his position as a prominent figure.
Sky has introduced a discounted Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, offering substantial savings and an extensive coverage of live matches across various leagues. Sky’s enhanced Premier League coverage will include at least 215 live games next season, presenting a significant increase in the number of matches broadcasted.
In compliance with data privacy regulations, Reach and its affiliates use cookies and device identifiers to enhance user experience, analyze site usage, and deliver personalized advertisements. Users can manage their data sharing preferences by adjusting settings on the webpage. Continued use of the website signifies acceptance of cookie usage and agreement to the outlined privacy and terms policies.