The crowning of Zhao Xintong as Asia’s first world snooker champion will have come as a surprise to many unfamiliar with the sport, who will have also been unaware of its vast popularity in China.

Zhao Xintong’s breakthrough win at the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield is set to usher in a bright new era of Chinese stars. Zhao is one of five Chinese players who have finished the season in the world’s top 16, and one of 14 currently inhabiting the world’s top 50 – all but three of whom are under the age of 30.

Zhao Xintong has been threatened with a 'telling off' by his manager if he splurges his World Snooker Championship winnings too quickly. The 28-year-old became £500,000 richer by defeating Mark Williams at the Crucible, and there is a lot more cash heading his way after becoming an overnight superstar in China.