Zhao Xintong urges snooker stars to do opposite of Ronnie O’Sullivan | Other | Sport
Zhao Xintong has urged young snooker prospects in Hong Kong to move to the UK. The new world champion moved from Shenzhen to Sheffield as a teenager, and believes a similar move could benefit other up-and-coming players. This is the opposite of former world champions Judd Trump and Ronnie O’Sullivan, who have both spoken about basing themselves outside of the UK.
Zhao became the first Asian player to win the World Snooker Championship with his 18-12 triumph over Mark Williams last week, earning the third ranking title of his career. The 28-year-old also defeated snooker legend O’Sullivan in the semi-finals. However, Zhao has a different stance on the best location for top players than the seven-time world champion, who was awarded residency in Hong Kong last year.
“I feel that in the UK, the level of training is better because the players here are more skilled and it helps to raise your standard,” Zhao told the South China Morning Post.
“On the mainland, for example, the level isn’t that high, and the level of competition is also not that high, so your motivation won’t be as strong. If you really want to play professionally, it’s definitely better to train in the UK.”
When asked what advice he would give to snooker hopefuls, Zhao said: “Focus on your training and believe in yourself. If you have the opportunity, going to the UK is obviously the best.”
Zhao honed his craft at Victoria’s Snooker Academy, which is situated a 10-minute walk away from the Crucible, the scene of his World Snooker Championship victory. Several other Chinese stars also live in Sheffield, taking a different approach to some of their compatriots.
The Hong Kong Sports Institute is the go-to base for many, with 24 elite players being paid a monthly allowance ranging from £1.2k (HK$12,480) to £5.2k (HK$54,150) based on performance. While players may choose to stay in Hong Kong for various reasons, seven-time world champion O’Sullivan finds himself in a slightly different position.
The 49-year-old was granted residency in Hong Kong last year and explained that most of his work commitments are in Asia. “I probably do about 70 per cent of my work in China and Asia now, so I have to make a life here, I have to make a home,” O’Sullivan told TNT Sports. “If you work a long time in a certain place, you need to make it as comfortable as possible.”
He added: “Obviously snooker is very popular here as well. Obviously, like myself, someone travelling from another country, the tax is also a good thing. But your food, your culture, it’s a great place to live, a great place to be. If you want to live a life, a good life, you should come to Hong Kong.”
At the time, O’Sullivan suggested he would also be splitting his time between another location. During the recent world championship, the snooker icon shared that he planned to relocate to the Middle East soon.
“I think I am going to be moving out of the UK this year,” he admitted. “I’ll be moving away to the Middle East. We’ll see how it goes – I might be back in six months. A new life somewhere else. I don’t know how that is going to pan out.”
Former world champion Trump has made a decision similar to O’Sullivan’s, differing from Zhao’s opinion on which location works best for the sport’s top stars. Trump is planning to spend his time between Hong Kong and Dubai.
In January, it was announced that the snooker star planned to live in Hong Kong with his girlfriend Maisy Ma, a TV presenter and former figure skater. Trump also has residency in Dubai, where he spends most of his time.
When asked what he enjoyed about Hong Kong, Trump said: “Everything really. The food, the environment, the buildings, everything there is so special. In the middle of everything it is the hustle and bustle, then you drive 15 minutes and you have the beaches, you have the weather. It is such a nice place.”
In an interview with the Metro, Trump elaborated on his plans: “My main base will be in Dubai, but my girlfriend lives in Hong Kong. I have residence in both Dubai and Hong Kong, so I’ll be split between them depending on where the tournaments are.
“It’s very different, completely different from what I’m used to. I’m used to my old life of just going to practice and then sitting at home all night, every day.
“I wouldn’t have expected this, but my life has really changed for the better. I am able to enjoy myself a bit more off the table. It is nice to be living in a warmer climate and being able to experience that and the different cultures. I am in a good place off the table, and that is why I have been consistent over the past five or six years.”
