Zhao Xintong 'has been letting himself down' and needs to 'add a bit of steel to his game' - Alan McManus
Published 19/12/2025 at 13:55 GMT
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Zhao Xintong told TNT Sports earlier in the season that he was enjoying being world champion, following his brilliant success at the Crucible. Despite being happy with how his career has developed in the last 12 months, his form has been mixed and Alan McManus has urged him to toughen up. Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the Masters, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
'He is not tough enough' - McManus urges Zhao to add steel to his game
Video credit: TNT Sports
Zhao Xintong has had a mixed season following his World Championship success earlier this year, and Alan McManus has said the Chinese sensation needs to "toughen up" at the table.
The 28-year-old returned from a 20-month suspension for his part in a match-fixing investigation in stunning fashion, as he powered through World Championship qualifying before going all the way to Crucible glory.
Zhao’s performances in Sheffield were out of the top drawer, as he beat Jak Jones, Lei Peifan, Chris Wakelin and Ronnie O’Sullivan before taking down Mark Williams 18-12 in the final.
Expectation levels have ramped up on the back of his run to the world crown, but it has not been smooth sailing for Zhao.
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Watch in FULL as Zhao makes 'rare, spellbinding' 146
Video credit: TNT Sports
His performances in ranking events have been poor, with his best display to date in the 2025/26 campaign being a run to the semi-finals of the International Championship.
His efforts in non-ranking events have been better, with semi-final appearances at the Shanghai Masters and Champion of Champions prior to beating Neil Robertson in the final to take the title at the Riyadh Season Championship.
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Following his win in Riyadh, Zhao’s form dipped alarmingly - as he was beaten in the second round of the UK Championship and Scottish Open. In both those defeats, his cue action lacked its usual fluency.
Zhao’s competitive snooker in 2025 came to a close following defeat in Edinburgh, with his focus now shifting to the Masters - which kicks off on January 11, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Victory at Alexandra Palace would see Zhao enter an exclusive club, as it would see him complete the Triple Crown set of Masters, UK Championship and World Championship.
That will be his aim for the start of 2026, but TNT Sports pundit McManus said his fortitude will have to improve for it to happen.
"Zhao Xintong has been letting himself down a little bit of late," McManus said on TNT Sports ahead of the quarter-finals of the Scottish Open. "That is not Joe O'Connor's problem. He [O'Connor] did his job [in winning their second-round meeting], Zhao Xintong didn't.
"He is not tough enough. I have been saying that in recent weeks, the last couple of months.
"He has got to toughen up. You look at the eight guys [in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Open], your Joe O’Connors, your Chris Wakelins, they are tough out there. Mark Selby is the epitome of that.
"He has got to add a bit of steel to his game. The game is good, but steel is needed."
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'What about that?' - Zhao pulls off magical four-ball plant
Video credit: TNT Sports
Zhao will begin his Masters challenge against Gary Wilson on Monday, January 12.
Should he navigate his way through that match, a meeting with grizzled veterans John Higgins or Barry Hawkins would lie in wait.
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Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the Masters, live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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