Will Zhao v Ding draw the biggest TV audience in snooker history?
Over the next few days, a World Championship match might break the record for snooker's biggest-ever television audience. But it is not the last-16 encounter between Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins, nor does it feature world number one Judd Trump, or three-time winner Mark Williams. Such has been the rapid growth of the game in China, the match between Ding Junhui and Zhao Xintong is the tie in question, as the country's first ranking event winner and trailblazer goes up against its first world champion - and the defending champion in Sheffield.
"It's a big clash and it could surpass all records, it could be hundreds of millions [watching] in China," said Jason Ferguson, the chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), who has been a key figure in the growth of the sport there. "It could be the highest [television audience], we just keep on breaking records with snooker, it just keeps growing. Since Zhao Xintong won [the world title], 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.
" Zhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights Last year, Zhao came through four rounds of qualifying and then defeated 2024 runner-up Jak Jones, compatriot Lei Peifan and England's Chris Wakelin before thrashing seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan 17-7 to reach the final. Zhao's 18-12 success over Mark Williams was a pivotal moment in the sport, instantly making the winner a national hero, and inspiring youngsters to take up snooker. According to World Snooker Tour figures, more than 24.
5 million unique viewers watched the third session of the final alone in China and during the whole 2025 tournament, it had a cumulative audience of 180 million on national broadcaster CCTV5. The event also had 1. 5 billion social media impressions in China over its 17 days.