Stephen Hendry has made a bold remark, claiming one star ‘will be fuming’ after Zhao Xintong’s World Snooker Championship victory on Monday.
The 28-year-old became the first-ever Chinese victor of the famous trophy, breezing past Mark Williams 18-12 in the final in Sheffield.
Zhao entered the first round of qualifying after losing his tour card due to his participation in a match-fixing scandal in January 2023, also making him the first-ever amateur player to lift the trophy.
The champion was banned for 20 months, after admitting to being "being party to another player fixing two matches," as well as placing bets on other snooker matches.
Zhao Xintong became the first-ever Chinese world champion
PAHe was also fined £7,500 for his participation.
But the 28-year-old overcame these setbacks to pocket the £500,000 cheque at the Crucible on Monday.
However, Crucible legend Stephen Hendry suggested that Zhao's fellow Asian snooker star Ding Junhui would not be satisfied with the achievement.
Speaking on the Snooker Club podcast, Hendry said: “He’s [Ding] 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.”
Ding has won 15 major titles, including three UK Championships and became the first-ever Asian world No 1. He is also widely regarded as the most successful snooker player from the Far East.
Hendry, however, feels Ding may not be pleased for his countryman, as he continued: “I don’t know Ding well, maybe he’s close to Zhao and he’s delighted for him.
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Ding Junhui lost 13-4 Luca Brecel on day ten of the World Snooker Championship this year
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"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.”
Hendry has won the tournament a joint-record seven times, along with fellow legend Ronnie O’Sullivan, who was beaten in the semi-final of this year’s tournament by eventual winner Zhao Xintong.
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Ronnie O'Sullivan crashed out to eventual winer Zhao Xintong in the semi-final
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Speaking in relation to Xintong’s ban from the sport, O’Sullivan said: "Yeah, I think it was unfortunate for some of the boys, I think they weren't really involved in it from what I gather. So some of them, you just think, it was really harsh for them.
“I don't know the full facts of it, to be honest with you. But from what I heard, was just caught in the firing line and a bit of naivety, I suppose."
Despite Hendry’s claims, Jinhui was quick to congratulate Xintong on social media - dispelling rumours of any bad blood in the process: "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!"
