Zhao Xintong hints at how he’ll spend £500,000 World Snooker Championship prize money despite manager’s warning
SNOOKER’s new world champion Zhao Xintong has hinted at the luxuries he might splash some of his £500,000 winnings on.
But the manager of Asia’s first ever Crucible king warned the Chinese star she will “tell him off” if he “enjoys” spending it too much.
Zhao, 28, awed fans and pundits with the manner in which he defeated three-time world champ Mark Williams 18-12 in the final.
He made history by doing so as both an amateur and qualifier.
Zhao only returned to competitive action last September following a 20-month ban over match-fixing offences.
Now he has given his first suggestion of where a sizeable chunk of his prize money could go.
And the items could potentially be seen while he’s in action.
Zhao told the South China Morning Post he’s not yet sure what he’ll purchase.
However, he added: “But I do like watches – different brands, too.”
On the one hand, wristpieces could be a stylish investment. On the other, they might take Zhao close to being in hot water with manager Victoria Shi.
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The Express report Shi as saying: “Let him enjoy [the prize money]. But if he enjoys it too much, I will tell him off.
“He is the first Asian world champion, and that is huge.
“But it is my job to make sure he stays grounded.”
It’s not known if Shi was thinking of any other players when she dished out her firm advice.
But Stephen Hendry famously questioned the lavish spending of Luca Brecel following the Belgian’s 2023 Crucible triumph.
Brecel’s performances went downhill from an exciting peak as fast as did his bank balance – with even he himself later lamenting some of his sudden extravagance.
He said: “I went from a millionaire to a non-millionaire.
“It was a conscious decision to buy the cars and maybe feel that bit of pressure again, to recreate the feeling I had of just starting my career.
“I didn’t go lazy, but I just didn’t feel that hunger or motivation going from tournament to tournament.
“I don’t like that feeling, and I had to change something… It’s not a good mindset to have.”
Seven-time world champ Hendry claimed last year Brecel had been wasting his “undoubted talent”.
The Scot said: “What I’m questioning is what he’s doing with his career.
“You can say it’s a tough sport, but you’ve got to give the game a bit of respect.”