Zhao made history at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre by taking the seven frames he required to clinch the trophy after building a dominant 11-6 lead in Sunday’s sessions.
The 28-year-old was only China’s second World Championship finalist, emulating Ding Junhui’s run to the 2016 showpiece.
But while Ding was beaten by Mark Selby in the final nine years ago, Zhao produced a nerveless display to defeat three-time champion Williams.
He banked US$663,000 in prize money, earning immortality as Asia’s first World Championship winner.
“I can’t believe what I’ve done. It’s very exciting,” Zhao said. “I was so nervous tonight. Mark is still a top player and put me under so much pressure. He’s the best.”
Zhao, who won the 2021 UK Championship, is one of the sport’s most unexpected world champions.
He has been playing as an amateur since September as he continues his comeback after a 20-month ban for involvement in a 2023 betting scandal.
Zhao accepted charges of being a party to another player fixing two matches and betting on matches himself in a controversy that led to 10 Chinese players being punished, with life bans for Liang Wenbo and Li Hang.
Zhao’s enforced amateur status meant he had to battle through four qualifying rounds just to reach the World Championship main draw at the Crucible, which is walking distance from his Sheffield home.
Due to return to the main professional tour next season, Zhao is just the third player after Terry Griffiths and Shaun Murphy to win the title as a qualifier in the 48-year Crucible era.
“It’s been a brilliant tournament for me. But what a potter Zhao is. I’m glad I’ll be too old when he’s dominating the game,” Williams said. “I’ve got nothing but admiration for what he’s done, coming through the qualifiers. He hasn’t played for two years, bashed everybody up. There’s a new superstar of the game.”
While Zhao’s story is startling, Asian snooker has been on the rise for several years.
The sport is hugely popular in China, with a national snooker academy in Beijing training the country’s best young players. Millions of Chinese fans were expected to tune into the final to witness Zhao’s coronation.
Only 12 months ago, Zhao was sitting at home watching the World Championship in the midst of his ban.
But his road to redemption picked up speed with a blistering display to thrash seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan 17-7 in the semi-finals last week.
The Chinese sensation produced an equally brilliant performance to dispatch the 50-year-old Williams, who was bidding to become snooker’s oldest world champion.
Zhao, nicknamed ‘The Cyclone’, was blowing at full force as he won four of the first five frames to move 15-7 ahead in Monday’s afternoon session.
With the title within reach, Zhao was made to wait a few hours longer as Williams took the final to the evening session.
When the action resumed, the Welshman showed his mettle, winning the opening frame with a 101 break.
Williams took the second comfortably, made it three in a row with another century break and capitalised on a fortuitous red to win the fourth.
Zhao could have crumbled as the pressure mounted, but after Williams missed an easy red, the Chinese star seized his chance. His ice-cool 87 break sealed the title and he held a China flag aloft in delight to acknowledge the acclaim of the crowd.
China now has reigning male and female champions after Bai Yulu won the 2024 World Women’s Snooker Championship.
Zhao admitted to have mixed feelings after beating his “idol” O’Sullivan in the semi-finals.
But he had no such qualms about finishing off Williams.
Compared to snooker icon Jimmy White for his eye-catching style of play, Zhao has accomplished something his fellow left-hander never did by winning the world title.
The modest Zhao had celebrated victory over O’Sullivan with a “big lunch”.
Being crowned world champion for the first time called for a much more extravagant party.
“I’m not tired. I’ll maybe have a good drink tonight,” he said. (AFP)
