Zhao thrashes Trump to win Tour Championship
China's Zhao Xintong thrashed world number one Judd Trump 10-3 to claim his first Tour Championship title in Manchester. Leading 5-3 heading into Sunday's concluding session, the world champion put the match beyond the Englishman, by reeling off the first four frames of the evening to give himself a 9-3 advantage. The result meant the 29-year-old banked the £150,000 top prize and became only the third player to win in excess of £1m in a single season, after Ronnie O'Sullivan and Trump.
Zhao's success also meant he was the first ever player to win all three events in the Players Series in the same season, having triumphed in both the World Grand Prix and Players Championship in February. He has also now won every one of the six ranking finals he has appeared in - a feat only previously achieved by Steve Davis, Mark Williams and Neil Robertson. "This is a big moment for me.
Judd Trump is my favourite player. I am really happy and lucky that tonight I am the one that has won," Zhao said. "It may look easy but actually I was very nervous.
I am happy to have won all six of the finals I've been in. "Manchester is a very good city and the crowd is amazing. I love it here.
I tried to enjoy the snooker table. I know it is hard. " With just 13 days until the start of the World Championship, the manner in which Zhao won this tournament sent an ominous warning to those with aspirations of dethroning him at the Crucible.