China's snooker sensation Zhao Xintong delivered a commanding performance to defeat world number one Judd Trump 10-3 and claim his maiden Tour Championship title in Manchester.
Entering Sunday's final session with a 5-3 lead, the reigning world champion seized control by winning the first four frames of the evening, establishing an insurmountable 9-3 advantage. The victory earned Zhao the £150,000 top prize and placed him among an elite group—only the third player after Ronnie O'Sullivan and Trump himself to surpass £1 million in earnings within a single season.
Zhao's triumph also marks a historic milestone: he becomes the first player ever to win all three events in the Players Series in the same season, having previously secured victories at the World Grand Prix and Players Championship in February. Remarkably, he has now won all six ranking finals he has contested—a feat previously achieved only by legends Steve Davis, Mark Williams, and Neil Robertson.
"This is a big moment for me. Judd Trump is my favorite player, and I'm thrilled and fortunate to come out on top tonight," Zhao remarked after the match. "It might have looked straightforward, but I was actually quite nervous. I'm delighted to maintain my perfect record in finals. Manchester has been fantastic—the crowd is incredible, and I truly enjoyed playing on this table."
With the World Championship set to begin in just 13 days, Zhao's dominant display sends a clear warning to rivals hoping to challenge him at the Crucible. His path to the final included a stunning 10-1 demolition of John Higgins on Saturday—the heaviest defeat of the Scot's illustrious 34-year career—and Trump fared only marginally better the following day.
Despite Trump's brief resurgence, rallying from 2-0 down to level at 2-2 and snatching the eighth frame to hint at a potential comeback, Zhao's relentless precision shut the door on any late drama. The Chinese star's performance, highlighted by breaks of 91 and 98 in consecutive frames, propelled him to fourth in the world rankings and secured his fourth title of an already glittering campaign.
Trump acknowledged Zhao's rising stature, stating, "He's a phenomenal player who will be a force for years to come. It's up to me and others to elevate our game against him, or he might end his career with a hundred tournament wins. Over the past two months, he's arguably been the world's best player—he's fantastic for the sport, and I always relish competing against him. Now, I need to regroup and improve."
The Englishman struggled with consistency throughout the match, his highest break a modest 61 in the third frame. He repeatedly glanced at his cue tip after missed opportunities, a recurring issue he had cited in earlier rounds. Despite chances in four of the five evening frames, errors proved costly, culminating in a missed black in the final frame that summed up his frustrating outing.
Zhao capitalized mercilessly on every opening, sealing the victory with his sixth half-century break of the match. "I'm disappointed I couldn't perform today, for whatever reason," Trump conceded. "It was a tough day, but credit to Zhao—he was simply outstanding."