Zhao Xintong vs Ding Junhui snooker clash could shatter Ronnie O’Sullivan vs John Higgins record
Zhao Xintong is aiming to break the Crucible Curse which has been in place for nearly half a century
Defending champion Zhao Xingtong’s second round clash with Ding Junhui today has been described as having the potential to become the most watched event in the history of Snooker.
Reigning champion Xingtong wrote his name into the history books last year by becoming Asia’s first world champion.
He treated Crucible audiences to masterful wins last year over the likes of Jak Jones, Lei Peifan, Chris Wakelin and seven-time winner Ronnie O’Sullivan before securing his status as champion against the experienced Mark Williams in the final.
Now he’s looking to break the Crucible Curse by defending his crown as a first-time winner - something which Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby and most recently Kyren Wilson have all failed to do.
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Xingtong overcame Liam Highfield to secure his place in the second round, setting up a mouthwatering clash with fellow countrymen Ding Junhui - Asia’s most successful player of all time and a trailblazing figure in the sport’s ascent to prominence in China.
He won the China Open aged just 18 in 2005 and has since inspired many of his fellow countrymen to follow in his footsteps by reaching the upper echelons of the sport.
There are a record 11 Chinese players in this year’s field in Sheffield - making them the second most represented country in this year’s World Championship.
“It’s a big clash and it could surpass all records, it could be hundreds of millions [watching] in China,” said Chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association Jason Ferguson.
He added: “It could be the highest (TV audience), we just keep on breaking records with snooker, it just keeps growing.
“Since Zhao Xintong won (last year), snooker has continued to grow and recently we went to the number one sport watched on state media, China Central TV.
“We have a really popular world champion. He is popular, cool and funny – and funny in both languages. Him winning has had a huge impact on the sport and it has gone from strength to strength.”
Xingtong’s all Chinese affair with Junhui has the potential to be the biggest match of the tournament so far and appears likely to trump the viewing figures of another highly-anticipated match taking place this weekend between Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins.
O’Sullivan faced off against Xingtong in the semi-final last year, and if both prevail through their next two matches they could face off at the same stage again in this year’s tournament.