Zhao Xintong secured a £500,000 jackpot after beating Mark Williams 18-12 to win World Snooker Championship on Monday evening at the Crucible.
The 28-year-old secured glory on Monday to etch his name into the history books, becoming the first Chinese player to become world champion.
Zhao Xintong was made to wait by Williams to secure glory in the competition on Monday, with the Welshman taking the first four frames with his opponent forced to watch for much of the early contest.
The Chinese star went into the session 11-6 up following Sunday's play before a crushing display on Monday afternoon saw him take a 17-8 lead.
Zhao Xintong bagged himself an incredible prize fund after winning the World Championship
Reuters
Zhao had also opened up that commanding lead with some sensational snooker earlier in the Bank Holiday weekend, with the young amateur 7-1 up at one point.
That included incredible breaks of 77, 100, 57, 104 and 83, earning him plaudits for his potting ability and speed around the table.
Williams won five of the last nine frames yesterday to fight his way back into contention.
And he even started the evening session with a brilliant century to take the first frame, earning rippling applause around the Crucible, before going on to win the second frame too.
Zhao had largely been seated throughout the evening session as Williams took charge but he was given a chance to take the necessary frame in the third but missed an early pot.
That gave the advantage back to the Welshman, who finished with aplomb to reduce Zhao's lead further after narrowly missing out on another century, before taking a fourth frame to force a break - a situation no one saw coming when the two players walked out.
However, after the duo re-emerged after the break, Zhao finally got the one frame he needed to land the World Championship, who done so in style with a century.
It led to emotional scenes for the 28-year-old, who was banned for 20 months for match-making earlier in his career.
He has now claimed the £500,000 jackpot, and also become the first amateur to win the tournament, after triumphing X on Monday.
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Mark Williams put on a fine showing in Monday's evening session
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A total of £2.4million was up for grabs over the World Championship this year, the same as last year when Kyren Wilson bagged the £500,000 prize for becoming champion.
Williams will still be leaving with a decent pay packet himself, scoring £200,000 for finishing runners-up, while losers in the semi-finals take home £100,000.
That includes Ronnie O'Sullivan, who was dispatched with ease by Zhao with a session to spare.
Speaking after his momentous victory, Zhao said: "I can't believe what I've done. It's very exciting. Thank you.
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Zhao Xintong and Mark Williams had plenty of mutual respect for one another
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"I was so nervous tonight. Mark is still a top player and put me under so much pressure. He's the best."
Williams was magnanimous in defeat, saying: "It's been a brilliant tournament for me. The support I've had for the past two weeks has been unbelievable.
"But what a potter Zhao is. I'm glad I'll be too old when he's dominating the game. I've got nothing but admiration for what he's done, coming through the qualifiers. He hasn't played for two years, bashed everybody up. There's a new superstar of the game."
