Zhao Xintong was in a celebratory mood after thumping Judd Trump 10-3 to lift the 2026 Tour Championship crown in Manchester on Sunday.
The 29 year-old controlled the contest and won all five frames of the second session to east past the world number one.
It was Zhao’s sixth ranking success and extends his impressive record on the main tour of having never lost a final that he has competed in.
“I’m really happy that tonight I could win the final,” Zhao told Rob Walker for the World Snooker Tour.
“Judd Trump is my favourite player, so I know that he is a very, very good player. Tonight I played really well.”
“I know that Trump had some problems with his tip, which gave me some easy chances. I was lucky tonight, but I’m really happy.
“It was a very important win for me, and it’s a big moment in my career. I was hoping that I could keep going and not lose in the final.”
Zhao took the opening two frames of the Tour Championship final with breaks of 64 and 68, but Trump responded by winning the next two to restore parity.
Runs of 91 and 98 then helped Zhao to a 5-2 lead, so it seemed important at the time when Trump won the last frame of the first session to reduce his arrears to just two again.
Yet Zhao dominated proceedings in the evening, with Trump unable to score heavily when given his opportunities.
Victory for the Chinese star gives him the clean sweep on the Players Series, an unprecedented achievement in a singe season with this win completing the set and adding to his earlier triumphs at the World Grand Prix and the Players Championship.
“I can’t believe that,” Zhao continued. “It’s amazing for me, and it’s an amazing moment for my career. I’m really happy about that.”
“I know that the next tournament is the World Championship, so I can keep going. I’m far away from being at my best, but I’ll try to get better.
“I’m definitely going to be nervous [returning to the Crucible Theatre as the defending champion]. I just want to try to enjoy this occasion.
“I know that Trump is the world number one, and I knew that I needed to play well. So yeah, tonight is good.”
Zhao and Trump will be on opposite sides of the World Snooker Championship draw as the top two seeds.
The latter will be hoping that he will have the opportunity to avenge this loss, but all eyes will be on Zhao and his attempt at breaking the Curse of the Crucible.
“Over the last two months, Zhao has been the best player in the world,” Trump said. “I always enjoy the challenge – it’s up to me to go away and try to improve.”
“I’m just disappointed because the crowd spurred me on. Zhao has had an amazing tournament, he has been brilliant in these three [Players Series] events and won them all very convincingly.
“It’s nice to see someone from China come through, in the way he plays. He’s going to be around for a long time.
“It’s up to me and the other players to play well against him, otherwise he’s going to end his career with 100 tournaments.
“There will be a lot of practice for me over the next two weeks, and hopefully I will turn up at the World Championship ready to go.”
The venue stages World Snooker Championship commence on April 18 with the qualifiers starting today, April 6, in Sheffield.
Featured photo credit: WST
