Welshman Williams described Zhao as a “superstar” after he defeated the three-time champion in the final.
Zhao became the first Asian player as well as the first amateur to triumph at the Crucible.
He returned from a 20-month ban in September, which he received for his involvement in a match-fixing scandal.
A total of 10 players from China were sanctioned in the scandal, which cast a shadow over the sport in the country.
But Ferguson is optimistic about the sport’s growth in China and believes Zhao, whose world title earned him £500,000 in prize money, could go on to become “the richest-earning player in the history of the sport”.
Ferguson added: “That’s quite a bold statement when you think about the titles players like Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan won.
“But the size of the market is huge and when you see the association of the brands who want to partner with snooker, it has endless potential.
“This is one of the biggest occasions snooker has seen. Snooker in China is treated like any national sport. To see a world champion returning to China a national hero is really going to send the sport to another level.”
He will now retain his ranking points after a memorable run in Sheffield – and has already guaranteed a cheque for £200,000.
Zhao said: “In the past, when I played Ronnie, I’d get nervous because I really wanted to win.
Ronnie O’Sullivan makes rare blunder in first break of World Snooker Championship semi-final
“But I didn’t put too much pressure on myself this time.
“Today I felt a lot more relaxed and enjoyed it, and I ended up playing pretty well. He gave me a few chances, and I took them.
“Tonight I could feel that the whole crowd was cheering for Ronnie. But honestly, I think he deserves it.
“He’s won here seven times already, and he absolutely has the ability to win an eighth.
“That’s why I told myself not to relax, because I know he’s someone who can come back from almost any scoreline.
World Snooker Championship 2025
WE are now into the final days of what has been a THRILLING World Snooker Championship!
A new world champion will be crowned this year after Kyren Wilson crashed out in the first round.
Heavyweights such as John Higgins and Mark Selby have also fallen as we head to the final on Sunday and Monday.
Ronnie O’Sullivan was eyeing a record eighth world title but crashed out at the hands of the brilliant Zhao Xintong – who reached the final qualifying as an amateur after his ban.
In the other semi-final, World No 1 and tournament favourite Judd Trump is facing Mark Williams.
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“I just tried to focus on one shot at a time and make the most of every chance he gave me.”
No Chinese player has ever become world champion – but Zhao does not feel weighed down by history.
He continued: “This tournament feels totally unique.
“For Chinese and Asian players, no one has won it yet.
“Every match win here is incredibly difficult. Even though I’ve made it to the final, there’s still a long way to go.”
