Stephen Hendry feels world champion Zhao Xintong has an air of Ronnie O’Sullivan about him and expects plenty more success to come in his future.
The 28-year-old beat Mark Williams to win his first world title in Sheffield in May, completing a remarkable return to the game.
Zhao sat out for two years after a ban for his involvement in a match-fixing scandal, although he did not fix any matches himself, which is why his punishment was relatively light.
In his first World Championship since his return he won four qualifying matches just to reach the Crucible, where he brushed aside Jak Jones, Lei Peifan, Chris Wakelin, O’Sullivan and Williams.
Already a UK Championship and German Masters champion before he was banned in January 2023, the Cyclone was very highly thought of as an incredible talent on the baize and that has only been further cemented by his Crucible exploits.
Hendry feels he makes the sport look easy in a way no one has since the Rocket came on the scene and expects multiple world titles in Zhao’s future.
‘I think Xintong is a special, special talent,’ Hendry said on his Cue Tips YouTube channel. ‘Since Ronnie O’Sullivan, no one’s made the game look as easy as Zhao Xintong makes it look.
‘He won the World Championship at a canter, really. Okay the draw opened up for him and he could have played other players but you can only beat who is in the other chair and he did it so comfortably.
‘I think he’s got that special something…if he didn’t win another two or three World Championships I’d be very, very surprised. I think he’s capable of being at the top of the sport.
‘Obviously you’ve still got players like Judd Trump, Kyren Wilson, the Selbys and Shaun Murphys of this world, who are going to be up there. But I think this guy he seems level headed enough and if he can get used to the expectations on his shoulders, I think he can go on to do special things in the sport.’
The world champ on a life-changing experience
Zhao is yet to play since he downed Williams 18-12 in the Crucible final, with his first match of the new season coming at the Shanghai Masters at the end of this month.
He has been busy, though, with his profile exploding in China thanks to becoming the first winner of the World Snooker Championship from the country.
The sport is extremely popular in China and while he is set to make plenty of cash from the opportunities which will now present themselves as world champion, he will also have to deal with the pressure of fame.
Speaking to Hendry, Zhao said: ‘I think it’s a big change for me, life’s changed, I’ve got a little bit famous in China. When I walk on the road, fans know me, I’m very happy I can feel that.
‘I’m looking forward to next season. I know the season has started now, so I’ve watched some matches on my phone. I’m looking forward to my first match at the Shanghai Masters.
‘When you’re famous you get big pressure, I know that but I will try to keep to myself, just keep going, don’t think a lot about the media and the internet. I just want to keep to myself.’
Williams stunned by Zhao in Sheffield
Beaten finalist Williams also compared Zhao to a young Rocket, saying at the Crucible: ‘He’s close to as good to watch as O’Sullivan when he was younger. He just walks around the table as if he’s just walking to go to the toilet or something.
‘He’s just strolling. Pots from anywhere. Walks around not a care in the world. Two minutes later he’s on 65. Gee whizz! He’s got to sixty like that. Frightening.’
While the Welshman can also see the Cyclone breezing to more world titles, he does not see Zhao matching O’Sullivan and Hendry’s record of seven, or the Rocket’s eight Masters and UK Championship titles.
‘No. I don’t think anyone will ever challenge them records because the standard is too good to get that many Worlds and Masters and UKs it’s too tough,’ said Williams. ‘Who knows? But it will be highly unlikely.’
The Shanghai Masters gets underway on July 28, with Zhao due to play either Chris Wakelin or a wildcard player on July 30.
It will be the first time Zhao has played in the current non-ranking version of the Shanghai Masters, which was won last season by Judd Trump and Ronnie O’Sullivan on the four editions prior to last year.