'zhao World Title Can Aid Snooker's Olympic 2032 Bid'

China's Zhao Xintong becoming world champion could thief snooker's bid to participate nan Olympic Games, says nan sport's chair.

The 28-year-old became nan first Chinese subordinate to triumph nan World Championship successful Sheffield connected Monday.

Jason Ferguson, chair of nan World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), believes Zhao's occurrence will create opportunities for nan athletics successful Asia arsenic good arsenic worldwide - while aiding its chance of being included astatine Brisbane 2032.

"Realistically, Australia is simply a target," Ferguson said.

"We're talking to each nan multi-sport bodies. There's a batch of authorities involved, but nan size of snooker and really important China is to nan IOC [International Olympic Committee], personification has to look astatine this and opportunity 'this is now snooker's time'."

Snooker grounded successful its attempts to beryllium included astatine some nan Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Games.

Welshman Williams described Zhao arsenic a "superstar" aft he defeated nan three-time champion successful nan final.

Zhao became nan first Asian subordinate arsenic good arsenic nan first amateur to triumph astatine nan Crucible.

He returned from a 20-month prohibition successful September, which he received for his engagement successful a match-fixing scandal.

A full of 10 players from China were sanctioned successful nan scandal, which formed a protector complete nan athletics successful nan country.

But Ferguson is optimistic astir nan sport's maturation successful China and believes Zhao, whose world title earned him £500,000 successful prize money, could spell connected to go "the richest-earning subordinate successful nan history of nan sport".

Ferguson added: "That's rather a bold connection erstwhile you deliberation astir nan titles players for illustration Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan won.

"But nan size of nan marketplace is immense and erstwhile you spot nan relation of nan brands who want to partner pinch snooker, it has endless potential.

"This is 1 of nan biggest occasions snooker has seen. Snooker successful China is treated for illustration immoderate nationalist sport. To spot a world champion returning to China a nationalist leader is really going to nonstop nan athletics to different level."