Snooker legends Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry have made a huge prediction, declaring that China's Zhao Xintong has the potential to dominate the sport for the next decade and beyond. Their comments come as the reigning world champion begins his campaign at the UK Championship in York.
The Verdict from Snooker's Greatest
Speaking on the BBC, six-time world champion Steve Davis stated that Zhao, who won his first World Championship title in May 2025, stands alone as the player capable of taking the game to a new level. "Of all the players that I see at the moment, he looks like the only one that could possibly take it to the next level and dominate," Davis said. He emphasised that while it is not guaranteed in a fiercely competitive era, Zhao possesses the unique blend of talent required for true supremacy.
Stephen Hendry, the sport's most successful modern player, echoed this sentiment with a bold forecast. "What a career Zhao Xintong is going to have. He's got the potential to dominate the sport for the next 10-15 years," Hendry said, adding that the final factor is the Chinese star's own desire and hunger for success.
The Making of a Champion
Zhao's rise is a remarkable story of resilience. His progress was interrupted by a ban for minor involvement in a match-fixing scandal, but he returned to the sport in stunning fashion. At 28 years old, he sensationally won the World Championship as an amateur immediately after his ban ended, claiming only his third ranking title in the process. This victory has cemented his status as a top contender in every tournament he enters.
Davis praised not just Zhao's obvious skill but his mental fortitude. "He's got immense talent and he's making it look very easy, but he's got a great temperament as well," Davis explained. He compared Zhao's effortless, instinctive style to that of three-time world champion Mark Williams, noting his fluid movement around the table and machine-like precision.
Veteran Dennis Taylor summed up the awe Zhao inspires, saying, "In all the years I've played and watched snooker I've never enjoyed watching anyone as much as this player."
A Rare Prospect of Dominance
The predictions of long-term dominance are significant because they have been rare in recent snooker history. The era of true domination belongs to Davis in the 1980s and Hendry in the 1990s, with only brief spells of supremacy from players like Judd Trump since. The current season underscores the challenge, with 11 different winners in the first 11 tournaments.
For Zhao to fulfil these predictions, Davis believes he must develop a relentless, intimidating aura. "If he gets on a roll enough that he starts to get in other people's brains that he's so strong, that's how it happens. That's a relentlessness that we don't know yet that he's got," Davis concluded.
Zhao Xintong began his UK Championship title bid with a commanding 6-1 victory over compatriot Long Zehuang. He now advances to the last 16 in York, where the snooker world will be watching to see if the champion can begin to build the legacy the game's greats foresee.
