World Grand Prix: Zhao Xintong beat Zhang Anda in the all-Chinese final

Zhao has struggled in the event standings this season, failing to advance past the second round in nine of the 11 tournaments he has participated in.

But he was successful in non-ranking events, winning the Riyadh Season Championship in November and reaching the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters and Champion of Champions.

He broke serves at 145 and 130 twice in succession in the opening session, but 34-year-old Zhang, who is bidding for the second-ranking title in his fourth final, broke four more than 50 times, as the first session was split 4-4.

Chow raised his levels further in the evening session, scoring big to take three of the next four frames, opening up a 7-5 lead with a break of 111.

World No. 23 Zhang was able to break a maximum of 147 in the 13th frame after hitting 10 reds and nine blacks, but collapsed at 73.

Zhao restored his two-frame advantage with a break of 134 and a knock of 65 to move within one shot of victory before securing victory and the £180,000 winner’s prize with a clear of 131.

It proved a fitting end to what was a historic tournament for Chinese snooker, as it resulted in the first all-Chinese semi-final in a rankings event, while nine of the last 16 tournaments in Hong Kong have come from the country.