Zhao Xintong has had mixed results since his spectacular World Snooker Championship success, admitting that it is very different as the hunted rather than the hunter.
The Cyclone strolled to a first world title last year, with no one really getting close to him at the Crucible, including legendary names like Ronnie O’Sullivan in the semis and Mark Williams in the final.
Expectations for the 28-year-old were sky high this season as he returned to the professional ranks following his spell as an amateur, but he hasn’t really delivered yet, with just one ranking semi-final to his name since becoming world champion.
There have been flashes, like winning the invitational Riyadh Season Championship, but he has not become anything like the unstoppable force that some expected, not yet at least.
That expectation has weighed on Zhao, admitting that the pressure has increased and he is getting used to having a target on his back as the world champion.
‘I just want to try to enjoy every match. It sounds easy, but when I play the match it’s very difficult. I need to enjoy it, but it’s really hard,’ Zhao told Metro.
‘Definitely I have more pressure. I know every top player can control that and enjoy it on the table, so I’m learning to do that.
‘It’s different [since the World Championship], it’s still big pressure, but the feeling is different, Last year when I played the Crucible I was not a very high ranking player. I played with Ronnie and Mark Williams, I know I will lose, but I just want to fight.
‘Now it’s different, I’m high ranking, everybody wants to beat me. Everything is different. It’s very interesting.
‘I have talked to friends about it, but they don’t know how to explain it because every player thinks differently, but I’m trying to learn from top players.’
While he is learning to deal with the pressure of being world champion, Zhao is enjoying the trappings of conquering the Crucible, becoming a huge star in China.
‘I really enjoy it. I have learned a lot,’ he said. ‘I go to some places I’ve never been, go to shows I’ve not been to, fashion shows. I like it. Seeing very famous things in China, it’s very interesting.’
The world champ also gets to do things he hasn’t done before in the UK, including going to meet Manchester City stars, a team he supports because his compatriot Sun Jihai played for the club ‘a very long time ago, when I was very young.’
He added: ‘I really enjoyed that, but Manchester City lost 0-2 [to Bayer Leverkusen]. I enjoyed it, not the result. It was exciting to see the fans.
‘I played football when I was young, but when I started playing snooker I stopped playing other sport. I liked playing football, I wasn’t good, but I liked it.’
Zhao names tennis and table tennis as his favourite sports to watch outside of snooker and asked if he has any sporting heroes away from the baize, it is a current tennis star he admires most.
‘I follow the Chinese player Zheng Qinwen, the lady, she’s very good,’ he said. ‘She won the Olympic Games gold medal. She’s very good. I’ve not met her, but maybe in future.’
The world champion splits his time between China and Sheffield, with his girlfriend travelling with him between his two homes.
Attention will soon be turning to the South Yorkshire city and whether Zhao can be the first to beat the Crucible Curse by defending his title, but that is not on his mind just yet.
‘No, I don’t want to think about that,’ he said. ‘When I think about one more thing it gives me one more pressure!’
But asked if the Crucible Curse is real, he was clear, saying: ‘Yeah. It’s very real!’
With the World Championship only contracted to be held at the Crucible until 2027, its future is up in the air, with a possibility that the tournament could leave home having lived in Sheffield since 1977.
Zhao hopes that doesn’t happen, saying: ‘Hopefully it can stay there. It’s my lucky place.
‘It’s very important for me. I live in Sheffield and got the trophy in the Crucible so it’s very important for me.’
Having won the World and UK Championships, Zhao now has the chance to complete the Triple Crown at the Masters this week, where he takes on Gary Wilson in the opening round.
The Cyclone has only played in the event once before, and doesn’t have great memories of his one previous trip to Alexandra Palace, but is relishing a return.
‘I lost to John Higgins last time, 2-6,’ he said of his 2022 appearance. ‘I didn’t enjoy that too much, but hopefully this time I can enjoy it and win a few matches.
‘I know I need the Masters, but I try to play every tournament the same, not to think that this match is very important for me, this gives me pressure for myself. I try to play the Championship League like I do at the Masters.’
Zhao faces Wilson at Alexandra Palace at 7pm on Monday January 12.
