【体育经济】 赵心童夺冠将为中国斯诺克市场再添一把火

Core Insights - Zhao Xintong's victory at the World Snooker Championship marks a significant milestone as he becomes the first Chinese and Asian player to win this prestigious title, highlighting the rise of Chinese snooker on the global stage [1] - The number of Chinese players reaching the last 32 in the championship has increased to 10, the highest representation ever, indicating a strong presence of Chinese talent in the sport [1] Industry Growth - The popularity of snooker in China has surged since Ding Junhui's 2005 victory at the UK Championship, leading to over 30 million fans and a significant increase in professional players [2] - The number of snooker halls in China has expanded to over 160,000, contrasting with the decline in the UK, where the number has dropped from 12,000 to 4,000 [2] - The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) has increased the number of major events held in China to five annually, enhancing local players' exposure and fan engagement [3] Market Potential - The average annual growth rate of self-service billiard halls in China is approximately 20%, with the overall market size exceeding 100 billion yuan [4] - Projections indicate that by 2028, the number of billiard enthusiasts in China could surpass 60 million, with the market size potentially reaching 3.5 trillion yuan [4] - Zhao Xintong's championship win is expected to accelerate the trend of snooker becoming a more mainstream sport in China, similar to the impact of Yao Ming in basketball and Li Na in tennis [4]