Seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan has never hidden his admiration for Zhao — not even after suffering a decisive 17-7 semifinal defeat to the Chinese star in Sheffield last week.

"Zhao deserved his victory. I think he's done brilliantly all tournament," said O'Sullivan.

Born in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, Zhao moved with his family to the bustling metropolis of Shenzhen during his childhood.

An only child, young Zhao initially enjoyed playing table tennis and soccer. That changed when his father gave him a shortened cue at age six to try hitting balls — unexpectedly, he demonstrated remarkable hand-eye coordination, quickly potting simple shots with natural ease.

As his fascination with the game grew, his parents converted a room in their home into a practice space with a full snooker table, and later scouted the country for coaches to develop his talent.

"He would spend entire days practicing alone at the table, even forgetting to eat," recalled his mother.

In 2005, at just eight years old, Zhao made waves in the country's snooker community by compiling a 107 break in a local amateur tournament held in Xi'an.

His dedication and innate ability convinced his parents to fully commit to supporting their son's snooker ambitions.

With such unwavering family support, a 17-year-old Zhao once reflected: "I feel like the luckiest young player in snooker."

In late April 2013, a 16-year-old Zhao made his international debut, representing China at the 29th Asian Snooker Championship in Pakistan. That same year, he enrolled in a professional snooker academy.