Zhao Xintong was dumped out of the BetVictor Northern Ireland Open in the first round by Jordan Brown on Sunday but is not worried about a string of disappointing results since becoming world champion.
The 28-year-old has struggled for wins since his amazing triumph in Sheffield in May, yet to go beyond the last 16 of a ranking event this season.
The Cyclone’s underwhelming run continued in Belfast when he was beaten 4-0 by the Northern Irishman in the opening round.
However, he has been under the weather of late, saying he is better than he was during the recent Xi’an Grand Prix, but is still not at full fitness.
‘Now it’s better. A few days ago the body was not very good, I was not well, but I just keep trying to get better. It was very tough today,’ Zhao told Metro after defeat to Brown.
‘I don’t know how to say in English, I’ve got some medicine, but the medicine makes me not concentrate.
‘When I put my hand on the table, I’m a bit dizzy. When I have long pots I can’t see anything. Now it’s better, but maybe in a few days later it will be alright. I tried to play well, but it was hard.’
Zhao sounds relaxed about finding it difficult to pick up wins at the moment, confident that the results will come back and enjoying life since winning the sport’s biggest prize.
‘I’m enjoying it. You can see recently I’ve lost a few matches but I’m not really sad because I’m just trying to get better,’ he said. ‘Snooker’s a very tough game, but I’m just trying to learn and get better.
‘I just tried my best today. I’m not worrying about that. Just maybe need a few days, or maybe one or two months and I’ll come back.’
The world champion has dived into the world of endorsements since his Crucible brilliance, signing deals with the likes of Hublot and Swiss Military.
‘I like that. Enjoy the life,’ he said. ‘When I became the world champion everything is different so I just try to enjoy that and get better.
‘When I worked to become the world champion, I feel that I can get better, there are a lot of things I need to learn.’
Brown has also been struggling for results, with this win the first time he has won two games in the same event so far this season.
The Antrim Ferrari was unsurprisingly thrilled with a whitewash win over the world champ, saying: ‘Unbelievable. If you don’t get yourself up for these matches, there’s something seriously wrong.
‘Things haven’t been great on and off the table. Up until last night I was actually dreading going out there but today my family picked me up.
‘I started thinking good memories, winning the Welsh [Open], beating Neil Robertson here two years ago. It really gave me a lift. I had a lot of texts and a lot of friends and family coming here today. It was nice to show a bit of form because I haven’t been showing it recently and what better place to start? There’s no better place to do it than here.’
Brown’s form struggles stretch back further than last season, with the 38-year-old saying over the summer that he had considered quitting the game as he battled to turn things round.
‘It’s been difficult,’ he said. ‘You’re trying to get yourself out of a rut, every player has gone through it. You’re just trying to do the right things on the practice table.
‘Fergal O’Brien, my coach, has been brilliant, just trying to get it together again. I forgot that I’m a good player. I think I’d said to myself that I’m probably not that good at this game anymore.
‘I’ve been watching videos of myself in good times, at the Welsh and matches I’ve won to remind myself that I can play this game. I’ve been doing that this week and it’s given me a chance to play well this week.
‘Hopefully this is the start. I don’t want to just beat the world champion and that’s the story of the week. I want to continue, I want to build on it and if I show the form I did out there there’s no reason I can’t go on a deep run.
‘It can turn around, it has to start somewhere. Personally there’s only so much you can take because mentally it does drain you and you’re questioning your future. To have a bad run like this isn’t very pleasant, but there’s no reason I can’t go on a run this week, I just need to believe in myself.’
Brown takes on Ashley Hugill in the last 32 in Belfast.