Zhao wins all-Chinese World Grand Prix final

Zhao Xintong's previous ranking wins came at the 2025 World Championship, 2022 German Masters and 2021 UK Championship, while Zhang Anda (right) won the International Championship in 2023

Zhao Xintong claimed his first ranking title since being crowned world champion last May by beating Chinese compatriot Zhang Anda 10-6 in the final of the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong.

An appreciative home crowd at the 4,000-capacity Kai Tak Arena was treated to a high-quality contest in just the third all-Chinese final in a ranking event.

Zhao emerged victorious after rekindling the irresistible form that took him to victory at the Crucible, completing the victory with his fifth century of the match to move up to seventh in the world.

He had struggled in ranking events this season, failing to go past the second round in nine of the previous 11, but has found success in non-ranking events, winning the Riyadh Season Championship in November and making the last four of the Shanghai Masters and Champion of Champions.

"I don't feel that I've completely lifted the pressure of playing as world champion yet," said Zhao, who continued his 100% record in ranking finals, making it four wins out of four.

"Mentally I still feel there is room to learn from the very top players. This season so far, although I've had some good results, I feel that my overall consistency hasn't been as strong as the very best."

He made successive breaks of 130 and 145 in the sixth and seventh frames, but 34-year-old Zhang, chasing a second ranking title in his fourth final, knocked in four breaks of more than 50 as the first session was shared 4-4.

Zhao raised his level further in the evening session, scoring heavily to take three of the next four frames, opening a 7-5 lead with a break of 111.

World number 23 Zhang was on for a maximum 147 break in the 13th frame after potting 10 reds and nine blacks, but he broke down on 73.

Zhao restored his two-frame advantage with a 134 break and hit 65 to move within one of victory before sealing the win and £180,000 winner's prize with a 131 clearance.

It proved a fitting finish to what has been a landmark tournament for Chinese snooker, producing the first all-Chinese semi-final line-up at a ranking event, while nine of the players in the last 16 in Hong Kong hailed from the host nation.