John Higgins makes Zhao Xintong prediction after ‘genius’ wins historic latest title

John Higgins makes ‘genius’ Zhao Xintong his favourite to win the World Snooker Championship after an historic victory at the Players Championship.

The reigning world champion beat Higgins 10-7 in Sunday’s final in Telford, bursting for the winning line with breaks of 104, 126 and 92 after the pair could not be separated for 14 frames.

The 28-year-old becomes the fourth player to win his first five ranking finals, after Steve Davis, Mark Williams and Neil Robertson.

The Cyclone is now the first player to win the World Grand Prix and the Players Championship since the Players Series came into being in 2018/19.

He now has the chance to become the first to complete the hat-trick at the Tour Championship in Manchester next month.

Higgins was stunned by what he saw from the Chinese superstar, believing he can make more history in Sheffield this year and break the Crucible Curse, by becoming the first player to defend his first world title at the venue.

‘I couldn’t pot a long ball all day and Zhao doesn’t really miss any long balls,’ Higgins said on Channel 5. ‘The last three frames there it was absolutely poetry in motion.

‘I’m lucky to have my kids here and I can remember my dad saying he was lucky to see footballers like George Best and Jimmy Johnstone. My kids are lucky to see someone like Xintong. He is an absolute genius, a genius.

‘I felt totally great, I felt really good, I just couldn’t pot long balls. You get down for them and think you’ve got to get them because if you don’t get them you know he’s going to punish you. The last three frames it was a joy to watch even though I was on the receiving end.

‘I think he’ll be the man to beat at the World Championship this year, I really do.’

Stephen Hendry, who has tipped Zhao to reach ‘four or five’ World Championship wins, feels he is taking snooker to another level with his excellence.

‘I’m always looking for players who can take the game to the next level. I think this young man can,’ said the seven-time world champion. ‘I think he’s operating at a higher level than anyone else in the game at the moment.

‘He seems to have shrugged the expectation of being world champion and the pressure of that. And now just playing with a freedom and a confidence. Best player in the world at the moment, no doubt about it.’

Zhao was not always at his best in Telford, struggling at times against Elliot Slessor and Mark Allen in round one and the semi-finals, but bouncing back to 6-5 victories against both.

He also faltered at times in the final, before surging to the winning line in style.

‘I still can’t believe that, last week I was in Hong Kong and now back to Telford. I can’t believe that,’ he said of triumphing at the Grand Prix before Players Championship glory.

‘This week I played not really good, but tonight I think the last three frames I played really nice frames. I’m really happy.

‘Our Chinese people really respect John, Ronnie [O’Sullivan] and Mark [Williams], they’re 50 years old and can beat everyone in the world, so I’m really a lucky one.’

On his chances of defending his World Championship title, he said: ‘I don’t want to think a lot. I just want to enjoy snooker.’

Former Masters champion Alan McManus feels Zhao is on course to become one of the all-time greats, saying: ‘That’s what generational talents do in winning big tournaments.

‘He’s put away a legend and put him away in style. He is something incredibly special.

‘We’re talking about six, seven or eight players in the history of our sport are that special. He’s definitely the next one.’

Zhao would have to break the Crucible Curse to defend his world title in May and he would have to become the first to reach the Players Championship final and make it to the World Championship final in the same season.

The new world number five, China’s first world champion, has already made history, how much more can he write this season?

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