Zhao Xintong became the first-ever Asian player to win the World Snooker Championship with his victory over Mark Williams last week. He’s one of several Chinese stars poised to dominate the sport over the next decade, with a single mastermind being credited to the nation’s improved performances on the world stage.

Zhao defeated veteran three-time champion Mark Williams in Monday's final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

The crowning of Zhao Xintong as Asia’s first world snooker champion will have come as a surprise to many unfamiliar with the sport, who will have also been unaware of its vast popularity in China.