Zhao Xintong made history by becoming the first Asian player to be crowned world snooker champion, but he remains banned from playing in his home country of China

Zhao Xintong won the World Snooker Championship for the first time in his career on Monday night, but some of the game's biggest stars have called for changes to the tournament

Zhao Xintong’s breakthrough win at the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield is set to usher in a bright new era of Chinese stars. Zhao is one of five Chinese players who have finished the season in the world’s top 16, and one of 14 currently inhabiting the world’s top 50 – all but three of whom are under the age of 30.