Zhao Xintong set for huge UK bill as China agreement to benefit British economy

will receive a huge UK tax bill after winning the but will avoid having to pay taxes in his native China. He became the first Asian player to secure Crucible glory with an 18-12 victory over , who threatened a stunning comeback but fell short in spite of his efforts. As well as claiming the trophy, Zhao also collected the £500,000 top prize.

He will need to pay a huge amount of tax on his winnings, with HMRC due to receive a share of around £221,000. However, the 28-year-old is unlikely to be forced to pay additional tax in China given that he is a British resident. The two countries have a double taxation agreement, meaning all of Zhao's tax is likely to be paid in the UK.

Aaron Peake, personal finance expert at free credit score service , explained to Express Sport: "As long as he's tax resident in the UK, which generally means he lives here for more than 183 days a year and has his main home here, he won't normally have to pay Chinese tax on these earnings.

"That said, Chinese tax rules are complex and often depend on an individual's personal situation. In theory, if Zhao is still classed as tax resident in China or has strong financial ties there, Chinese authorities could look to tax his foreign income.

"But again, the double tax treaty with the UK would usually mean any Chinese tax liability is offset by what he's already paid in the UK. It's likely Zhao will only be taxed here in Britain and walk away with just under £280k.

"It's still a great payday, but it's a reminder that nearly half of big tournament winnings can be lost to tax. Professional players often bring in accountants to help manage this sort of windfall and avoid any nasty surprises later on."

Peake also suggested that Zhao might be able to marginally reduce his tax bill by claiming expenses for travel, accommodation, and other costs related to his profession.

"Assuming Zhao has little or no other UK income this tax year, he'll still be paying around £221,000 in tax," said Peake. "He'll be left with about £279,000 of the £500,000 prize money once HMRC takes its share.

"It's worth noting that as a self-employed athlete, Zhao can deduct certain allowable expenses related to his snooker career, for example, travel, equipment, coaching and accommodation costs.

"If these reduce his taxable income, his final tax bill could be slightly lower, but we're unlikely to be talking about a huge difference on such a large prize."