Zhao Xintong has become the new world number one after beating Neil Robertson in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Wuhan Open.
The pair began the encounter knowing that a victory for either would result in them rising to the top of the two-year standings.
Zhao got off to the better start, winning the opening couple of frames with breaks of 106 and 91, before Robertson got on the scoreboard by taking the third frame.
A lengthy fourth frame then proved crucial, with Zhao pinching it on the black before adding runs of 113 and 54 to secure a relatively comfortable 5-1 win.
The victory means Zhao becomes only the 13th player in snooker history to reach the summit of the official world rankings.
He is also the second Chinese player to become world number one after compatriot Ding Junhui.
The 29 year-old’s rise to the top has been remarkably swift.
Less than two years ago, Zhao had no ranking points to his name after returning to the World Snooker Tour following his suspension.
He has since accumulated more than £1.2 million in ranking prize money, with all but £10,000 of that total coming since his victory at the 2025 World Championship.
Zhao has been the standout player in snooker over the last 16 months and his ascent to the summit represents the latest reward for an extraordinary period of success.
He swept the Players Series during the second half of the 2025/26 campaign, securing the World Grand Prix, Players Championship, and Tour Championship hat-trick.
The Chinese star arrived in Wuhan having already established himself as one of the leading players in the world rankings.
His victory over Robertson means that Judd Trump’s reign at the top of the official two-year list comes to an end after about two years.
The Englishman had held the number one position since August 2024 but entered this week’s ranking event with his status under serious threat.
Trump wasn’t able to defend the £500,000 that he claimed for victory at the 2024 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, with that tournament since scrapped from the calendar.
With that sum deducted from his rolling two-year tally, the 37 year-old dropped to fifth on the provisional standings ahead of the Wuhan Open.
Trump was a winner at the prestigious Shanghai Masters earlier this month, but that event is classified as an invitational and doesn’t reward players with ranking points.
The former world champion subsequently exited in the last 32 of the China Open to Noppon Saengkham before suffering a last-eight reverse to Chang Bingyu in Wuhan.
Chang compiled breaks of 132, 69, 67, and 58 in dismantling the challenge of his esteemed opponent.
The result – and Mark Selby’s loss to Ronnie O’Sullivan on Thursday – opened the door for Zhao and Robertson to battle directly for the number one ranking, with Zhao emerging victorious.
It might only be the beginning for the Cyclone.
He has barely any ranking points to defend before the 2027 World Championship, with just £10,000 coming off his tally at this season’s UK Championship.
That leaves him with a major opportunity to extend his advantage at the top of the rankings during the coming months.
The Chinese star’s rise from zero ranking points to the summit in less than two years is therefore complete, but there could be considerably more to come.
On the immediate agenda is potentially securing a seventh career ranking success this weekend.
Zhao will face reigning Wuhan Open champion Xiao Guodong in Friday’s semi-finals, with O’Sullivan encountering Chang in the other last-four bout.
Featured photo credit: WST
Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-3 over Mark Sely…..if you can beat world number 5, you are not done
Look, I am not out to prove anyone wrong. I am wrong plenty of times. I only put myself out there to encourage my fellow snooker fans to take part.
But damn when Ronnie beat Mark Selby, it was great! While the commentators relished with Ronnie O’ Sullivan coming forward about his current form and outlook, truth is the likes of Neil Robertson, Mark William and Kyren Wilson were certainly off their best game.
Chang Bingyu 5-1 Judd Trump…..Number 1 no more…Losing to a 45th ranking player.
In February this year John Higgins said hedoesn’t understand why Judd Trump is not the face of snooker. I mean he is the number one in the world why shouldn’t he.
The best way I could tell you why in my opinion is by talking about an old film. Follow me here.
“My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, that is the movie. I will explain. Boy meets girl. Girl comes from a very proud and loud Greek family in the States. Boy is from a very prim and proper family. When the white folks were invited to meet the Greek family, they literally had no concept of smiling, dancing, telling stories or drinking and seemed to have never have experienced having a good time. That is partying. When everyone went home, the Greek father whined to his wife, this is not going to work. They are like dry toast. No fun, no interest, no nothing.
That is what Judd Trump is to me, Dry Toast.
I have respect for David Caufield and therefore I will not divulge my reasons for disliking Judd Trump,
I do not even like golf, but I was impressed with Tiger Woods back in the day.
I was also impressed by Roger Federer always smiling and leading tennis with honour and respect but most of all, a heartfelt appreciation for his fans from around the world.
Personally, I think it would be great for the like of Neil Robertson to represent snooker. He is a little edgy but has tons of energy. I am not sure he has the patience, nor safety game to be number 1.
Dramatic win Xiao Guodong 5-3 over luck Mark Wlliams
I personally think it is a shame Xiao Guodong and Zhao Xintong are playing in the semi finals and not in the Wuhan Finals.
Both players are for so much in the balance. Xiao Guodong is playing to win the third Wuhan Title in a row; an amazing achievement.
Zhao Xintong is playing to win his stake at becoming a World Number 1 for the first time.
Regardless, this semi final will certainly be a candidate of being the match of the tourney for both the Chinese and worldwide snooker fans.