Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Zhao Xintong (left) is the defending world champion while Ding Junhui was China's trailblazer on the green baize
Over the next few days, a World Championship match might break the record for snooker's biggest-ever television audience.
But it is not the last-16 encounter between Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins, nor does it feature world number one Judd Trump, or three-time winner Mark Williams.
Such has been the rapid growth of the game in China, the match between Ding Junhui and Zhao Xintong is the tie in question, as the country's first ranking event winner and trailblazer goes up against its first world champion - and the defending champion in Sheffield.
"It's a big clash and it could surpass all records, it could be hundreds of millions [watching] in China," said Jason Ferguson, the chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), who has been a key figure in the growth of the sport there.
"It could be the highest [television audience], we just keep on breaking records with snooker, it just keeps growing. Since Zhao Xintong won [the world title], snooker has continued to grow and recently we went to the number one sport watched on state media, China Central TV.
"We have a really popular world champion. He is popular, cool and funny - and funny in both languages. Him winning has had a huge impact on the sport and it has gone from strength to strength."
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Zhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights
Last year, Zhao came through four rounds of qualifying and then defeated 2024 runner-up Jak Jones, compatriot Lei Peifan and England's Chris Wakelin before thrashing seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan 17-7 to reach the final.
Zhao's 18-12 success over Mark Williams was a pivotal moment in the sport, instantly making the winner a national hero, and inspiring youngsters to take up snooker.
According to World Snooker Tour figures, more than 24.5 million unique viewers watched the third session of the final alone in China and during the whole 2025 tournament, it had a cumulative audience of 180 million on national broadcaster CCTV5.
The event also had 1.5 billion social media impressions in China over its 17 days.
"When I go to China I'm famous now and when I'm walking around the street lots of people want to take pictures of me," said 29-year-old Zhao. "It's amazing and a big difference to before but I'm really happy to do it and I'm trying to becoming a great player.
"Before, older people would want to take pictures of me because they are snooker fans, but now it is their son or daughter that takes pictures - and I'm really happy for it."
If Zhao is to retain his title, he has to do something none of the previous 20 first-time winners at the Crucible have done, by winning it again the following year.
But Zhao showed no signs of falling to the so-called 'Crucible Curse' in his first-round match, as he saw off English qualifier Liam Highfield 10-7.
Before the tournament started, seven-time winner Stephen Hendry, speaking on BBC Television, said Zhao was his favourite to lift the trophy on Monday, 4 May.
"I think Xintong can retain his title," said Hendry. "He is the future of the game for the next 10-15 years – he is going to dominate, no-one scores like him.
"He is not paying any attention to this stupid 'curse'. Other Chinese players have got a huge lift from seeing their countryman lift the trophy."
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Five of the 16 seeded players at the 2026 World Snooker Championship were from China - (from left to right) Xiao Guodong, Wu Yize, Ding Junhui, Zhao Xintong and Si Jiahui
This year a record 11 Chinese players reached the Crucible, up from 10 in 2025, and four of them have already made it through to the last 16.
"Zhao Xintong is a big star in China," said Ding. "He is young and a new generation who are looking to support someone see him as their hero.
"He is a nice guy, always smiling, enjoying snooker and enjoying his life. I like watching him play, he is playing different than before and is improved."
Both Ding, 39, and Zhao have made Sheffield their long-term UK base, with Ding having a snooker academy in the city where many of the top Chinese players practice.
"I've been here for nine or 10 years and Sheffield is my UK home," added Zhao. "When I'm back in China for one or two months I really miss Sheffield and want to come back.
"It is my second home and I'm really happy the World Championship can stay at the Crucible."
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Ding Junhui won the first of his 15 ranking titles just after his 18th birthday when he beat Stephen Hendry in the 2005 China Open final
Snooker's popularity in China grew at a rapid rate in the mid 2000s, accelerating when a shy Ding, two days after his 18th birthday, defeated seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry to win the 2005 China Open, watched by a reported television audience of 110 million people in the country.
"I'm very proud of my career," said 39-year-old Ding, who has won 15 ranking tournaments, including the UK Championship three times as well as the non-ranking Masters once and also reached the World Championship final in 2016.
"It will be a very tough match and a lot of people will be keeping an eye on it. It's hard to play a friend and all the players know each other quite well so it's difficult to have that concentration.
"I still feel the pressure and he is learning quickly how to handle this. He has enough skills and experience – he totally understands how to win."
The Ding v Zhao match will be on at prime time in China with Friday and Saturday's play starting at 14:30 BST (21:30 in Beijing), with Sunday's final session at 10:00 BST (17:00 in Beijing).
"When we first went to China there were no snooker tables and no snooker clubs, then came Ding's victory and it became a national sport 10 years later," Ferguson told BBC Sport.
"There are now 300,000 billiards clubs in China, it's huge - everyone is watching on mobiles, on television and the clubs are full. It is a dream come true for someone like me that has worked over there for 20 years.
"This is a major clash, I can see it is all over the news in China and it will be unbelievable.
"The amazing thing is they are both really popular. China loves their stars and loves their winners. They love Ding and love Zhao so I'm not sure who they will support, but the numbers will be significant."
