Snooker world champion Zhao Xintong recently disclosed his struggle with a health issue that causes dizziness and affects his vision while playing. Despite his impressive victory over Ronnie O’Sullivan and Kyren Wilson en route to clinching the World Championship title in May, Zhao’s performance has dipped due to health concerns.
In a groundbreaking 18-12 win against Mark Williams at the Crucible, Zhao became China’s first-ever world champion, setting high expectations for the season. However, his form has suffered as he faced an unexpected early exit at the Northern Ireland Open, losing 4-0 to Jordan Brown. Zhao attributed his recent struggles to a health scare that surfaced during the Xi’an Grand Prix but expressed optimism about his recovery.
Speaking after his defeat in Belfast, Zhao mentioned feeling unwell and experiencing difficulty concentrating due to medication side effects, leading to dizziness and impaired vision during matches. Despite the setbacks, he remains positive about bouncing back and regaining top form in the near future.
Known as ‘The Cyclone’ for his fast-paced snooker style, Zhao is set to return to action at the upcoming International Championship in Nanjing, China, where he will face Oliver Lines in the opening round. Following his world championship triumph, Zhao has secured lucrative sponsorship deals with renowned brands, elevating his status within the sport and emphasizing his focus on continuous improvement and enjoyment of his success.
As Zhao prepares for his upcoming matches, fans eagerly anticipate his resurgence in form and performance on the snooker circuit.