Zhao Xintong's historic World Snooker Championship title is set to spur the game to even greater heights in China and sparked predictions the country could come to dominate the sport.He says Chinese players will dominate snooker within three to five years.

Once considered a saloon or rec-room past-time by many, snooker has long been serious business in the U.K. and much of the rest of the world. Now, it seems, it's China's turn in the spotlight. Zhao Xintong’s crowning as Asia’s first world snooker champion has put the focus on the growth of the sport in China in a relatively short time.

Zhao defeated veteran three-time champion Mark Williams in Monday's final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.