When Zhao Xintong made history by becoming the first Chinese world snooker champion in some style back in May, it seemed the sport may have a new dominant figure. Such was the way the 28-year-old, nicknamed “The Cyclone”, blew the rest of the field away at the Crucible, it wasn’t hard to envisage him lifting trophy after trophy in the months and years to follow.
He may still go on to do that but instead of Zhao grabbing snooker by the scruff of its neck and taking over, the first half of the new season has gone in the complete opposite direction – with a new winner emerging almost every week.
