After Zhao Xintong advanced to the semifinals of the Snooker Wuhan Open, his immediate world ranking rose to No. 1, making him the second Chinese player to reach the world No. 1 spot after Ding Junhui. This “No. 1” is especially weighty, because snooker rankings are built through the accumulation of results across long-term events; it’s not something that can be swapped for just one unexpected upset. Even more worth discussing is that Chinese snooker is moving from “waiting for a lone prodigy” to having multiple players who are competitively capable. Star power can draw attention, but for a program to truly mature, you have to see whether young players can continue to emerge, whether professional events can stay stable, and whether ordinary people have places to practice. Do you think Zhao Xintong’s rise to No. 1 will usher in an era, or is the world No. 1 spot only the starting point of an even tougher stage? #ZhaoXintongWorldNo.1