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Zhao Xintong began this season suspended from snooker after a match-fixing scandal but is tipped to be the sport’s new “megastar” after becoming the first Chinese player to win the World Championship.

The 28-year-old, who lives just a 10-minute walk from the Crucible Theatre venue in Sheffield, joined Terry Griffiths and Shaun Murphy as the only qualifiers to land snooker’s biggest prize since the tournament’s 1977 move to South Yorkshire.

His 18-12 victory over Mark Williams on Monday means he is also the only amateur to claim the world title in the Crucible era, and the youngest winner since Murphy in 2005.

Zhao, who hails from Xi’an in north central China, moved to the UK in 2016 and was appearing in the third ranking-event final of his career.

“Winning the championship is the big dream for Chinese snooker,” said Zhao, prior to facing three-time winner Mark Williams in the final.

“When I was eight to 10 years old it was my first time to play snooker and from that moment it has been really far [to get to this point]. If you want to become a good player you need to do this [move away from home], even though it is very hard.”

He won the UK Championship in 2021 and the German Masters in 2022, but his burgeoning career was abruptly stopped when he was one of 10 players from China sanctioned in 2023 following an investigation into match-fixing.

Zhao did not directly throw a match, but he accepted charges of being party to another player fixing two matches and betting on matches himself, and for those offences he received a 20-month ban.

He returned to action in September on the amateur Q Tour and has won events in Manchester, Sweden, Austria and Belgium, while he also qualified for the UK Championship but lost to Shaun Murphy in the first round.

At the World Championship, Zhao had to advance through four qualifying rounds and then get past 2024 Crucible finalist Jak Jones, Lei Peifan and Chris Wakelin to reach the semi-finals.

Zhao, nicknamed ‘The Cyclone’, swept seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan aside with a session to spare in the last four, to record his 46th win in 48 matches since returning from his ban.

The match-fixing case cast a shadow over the sport in China.

A world final delivered an almost immediate shot at redemption following what Jason Ferguson – chairman of governing body the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) – described as a “heartbreaking” episode that also involved former Masters champion Yan Bingtao.

Yet the nature of that transgression means some around the game believe it could spoil the celebrations of a long-awaited Asian world champion.

“Zhao’s ban has been served and he is perfectly entitled to be competing again, but I’ve found the flowery language since his return somewhat befuddling given the circumstances,” said snooker journalist Nick Metcalfe.

“I was in York the night he picked up the UK title and the announcer shouted the words: ‘A star is born.’

“So this is not some newcomer to the snooker public. It honestly feels at times like praise has taken the place of scrutiny. I’m also not convinced the timing is ideal for the sport by Zhao winning the world title now.

“Coming so soon after the ban, some of the headlines – certainly from outside the snooker bubble – might well be the last thing the sport needs.

“We all presumed that a first Chinese world champion would be a special moment for everyone in the game, almost a moment of unalloyed joy, but I’m sure that won’t be the case now.”

In contrast, Barry Hearn, president of Matchroom Sport which controls much of the professional game, said: “He has served a ban for what some people would call a very minor offence.

“He’s a quality player and I think he’s a nice young man. Rules are rules and you take it on the chin. If you make a mistake in life, you don’t look back, you look forward.

Since the turn of the century, there has been a British winner at the Crucible in every year apart from 2010 and 2023, when Australia’s Neil Robertson and Belgium’s Luca Brecel lifted the trophy.

But snooker’s popularity in China has boomed ever since a shy Ding Junhui defeated seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry to win the 2005 China Open, two days after his 18th birthday.

That encounter was watched by a reported television audience of 110 million people in the country, and since then the nation’s hopes of a first world champion have largely rested on the shoulders of Ding, who was runner-up to Mark Selby in 2016.

Speaking after his semi-final loss, O’Sullivan stressed that in Zhao, China finally had a player with the talent and temperament to fulfil that ambition.

“I think it would be amazing. If he did win, he would be a megastar,” said O’Sullivan.

“He’s still very big in China as it is. But if he becomes world champion it would just be amazing for snooker and for his life as well. He can definitely get over the line.”

China is snooker’s biggest market in the television landscape, making up more than 50% of its global audience.

John Parrott, who won at the Crucible in 1991, said: “We have been talking about it for years and years.

“Ding has been close and a real ambassador for China, but just imagine what Zhao will do for the game over there.

Leroy Sane’s future at Bayern Munich is uncertain, and Manchester United name Alejandro Garnacho is reportedly asking for a raise from Bayern Munich, two Premier League clubs are interested in Nicolas Pepe, and two other clubs are interested in his transfer.

Chelsea will have to pay £65 million to sign Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho this summer, according to Manchester United. (Star)

Former Arsenal international Nicolas Pepe is out of contract at Villarreal until the summer, and the Wolves are interested in signing the 29-year-old. (Foot Mercato – in French)

Leroy Sane, 29, has changed his agent, which has questioned his prospects at Bayern Munich and the nearly-agreed contract extension. (Sky Sports Germany)

With the Reds looking for a new left-back, center-back, and striker, Liverpool are set to spend a lot this summer. (Talksport)

As a reward for Moises Caicedo’s impressive performances this season, Chelsea are set to discuss a new contract with the 23-year-old midfielder from Ecuador. (Telegraph requires a subscription)

Trent Alexander-Arnold, a right-back from Liverpool, is set to sign a six-year deal with Real Madrid that will start in July. (The Athletic is required to subscribe)

Alexander-Arnold, 26, turned down an offer for a significant raise to stay with Liverpool after the end of the current season. (ESPN)

West Ham and Manchester United both want England and Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, 26. (Mirror)

Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal is considering the likes of Fulham manager Marco Silva and Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo. (Talksport)

During his four years away from management, Falkirk manager John McGlynn claims a return to Scotland’s top flight as head coach was “a million miles away.”

After leading Falkirk to the Scottish Championship title, McGlynn, 63, was named PFA Scotland manager of the year for the second year in a row.

After completing Falkirk’s 15-year absence from the top flight, McGlynn defeated Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers and Hibernian head coach David Gray.

When questioned about the prize’s significance, he responded, “Everything, absolutely everything.” It’s amazing to be around people.

McGlynn is the first man to triple his success, having first won it in his first season with Raith Rovers in 2011.

The 63-year-old then worked under Rodgers and Ronny Delia before leaving Hearts and Livingston in 2014 and taking a backroom position at Celtic.

It’s always in you, as I was before I entered the game, and it’s always in you.

It was really up in the air whether I could have gotten back in. I have a really good relationship with Dan Rodgers, and I really admire him for his contributions.

He has actually assisted the teams I’ve worked for since I left Celtic. I gained a lot from my time working as an opposition analyst and scout.

Since his return to management with Raith Rovers in 2018, McGlynn says those lessons have been very helpful.

He claimed that because of his connections with Raith Rovers, employment was available.

I had the opportunity to go back and then succeeded in achieving my goal of playing in that manner, in that manner, and then to take it to Falkirk.

He later joined Falkirk in 2022 after missing out on a promotion with the Kirkcaldy club.

After an unbeaten League 1 campaign, McGlynn’s second season with the Bairns led to promotion, and he then won the Championship title without asking.

He said, “I went to Raith Rovers and tried to play the same kind of style with different players, obviously, as I did Celtic.”

Raith Rovers played some incredible football, which was unfortunate for them to not win the Premiership once more, before moving to Falkirk and accomplishing what they did was absolutely incredible.

The fans are enthralled, they’re coming along, they’re getting entertained, and we’re usually winning because we’ve got the right players in, and they do the right thing.

The 2027 NFL Draft will be held in Washington, D.C., according to US President Donald Trump.

The National Mall and Pennsylvania Avenue will host the three-day event.

Washington will host the draft for the first time since 2015 when the NFL began rotating the New York locations.

The 2027 NFL Draft will take place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., according to Trump.

“I don’t believe that there has ever been anything like that.” It will be stunning. Nobody else will ever succeed in creating something like it.

Trump became the first US president to watch the Super Bowl while he was in office in February.

Trump and Washington Commanders controlling owner Josh Harris, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and DC mayor Muriel Bowser made the announcement at the White House’s Oval Office.

According to Goodell and Harris, the event is anticipated to draw up to one million people.

In total, 775, 000 people showed up for the 2024 Draft over the course of three days, compared to the 600, 000 people who registered for the 2025 Draft last month in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

According to Goodell, “The NFL Draft has turned into a major event that brings people from all over the country and the world.”

Washington, a city rich in history and national pride, is “excited to welcome the 2027 Draft here.”

We’re looking forward to providing an unforgettable experience as we celebrate the next generation of NFL stars with the support of President Trump, the Commanders, Events DC, and Mayor Bowser.