World champion Zhao Xintong claimed his first title since his historic Crucible triumph, defeating Neil Robertson 5–2 in the final of the 2025 Riyadh Season Snooker Championship at the Global Theatre in Boulevard City. The event, played with a unique gold “Riyadh Season ball” worth 20 points, provided a spectacular backdrop for Zhao to underline his credentials as the sport’s reigning world champion.
Zhao was clinical after a tight opening, reeling off back-to-back centuries of 131 and 134 to move 4–1 ahead before closing out the match in frame seven. His route to the final was equally impressive—he edged world number one Judd Trump 4–3 in an epic semi-final decider after dispatching Shaun Murphy in the quarter-finals.
The tournament produced plenty of talking points beyond the final. Murphy whitewashed Ronnie O’Sullivan 4–0 in round two, while John Higgins was critical of the playing conditions, notably reporting beermats under the table. The £250,000 winner’s prize—one of the richest in the sport—confirmed the growing influence of Saudi Arabia on the snooker calendar.
Key facts:
Venue: Global Theatre, Boulevard City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Dates: 19–21 November 2025
Final score: Zhao Xintong 5–2 Neil Robertson
Winner’s prize: £250,000 (non-ranking invitational)
