Snooker star wins first tournament after return from ban following match-fixing scandal
One of 10 players banned in 2023 as part of a corruption scandal, this 27-year-old Chinese potter has started his comeback in glittering fashion on the Q Tour
Former UK Championship winner Zhao Xintong has tasted victory in his first tournament since returning to the sport after being banned in the wake of a match-fixing scandal two years ago. Zhao was one of 10 Chinese players reprimanded by the WPBSA – and was slapped with a one-year and eight-month suspension.
The talented 27-year-old has since picked up his cue once again, and defeated Craig Steadman 4-3 in Stockholm whilst playing on the amateur WPBSA Q Tour – a means by which cards for the World Snooker Tour are handed out to two top qualifiers.
Zhao currently sits second in the Q Tour rankings behind Estonian potter Andres Petrov and seems solely focused on reclaiming his professional status.
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The Chinese star made his initial comeback last month and, having been beaten in Bulgaria, arrived at this latest event with a point to prove. He managed eight century breaks over the course of the event, including a stunning 147 against youngster Shaun Liu, proving that his less-than two-year ban hadn’t seen any rust gather.
In fact, Zhao’s suspension was the shortest of his nine compatriots. Having accepted charges of being a party to another player fixing two matches and betting on snooker matches himself, the 27-year-old’s punishment was shortened from an initial two and a half years.
Some other guilty parties however, including 2015 UK Championship finalist Liang Wenbo, and fellow ace Li Hang, were handed lifetime bans.
Yan Bingtao, who won the Masters in 2021, was another notable star who was slapped with a hefty ban, being suspended from the sport for five years and faced with £7500 in costs – the same fee that Zhao was made to pay.
In the wake of his triumph over Steadman, Zhao admitted: “Coming to Sweden, I just wanted to get used to this feeling of playing in tournaments again. I wasn’t aiming to be the champion, but I just wanted to get back to playing competitively again.
“I haven’t changed my practice schedule. I still practice as usual and play against professionals. I think my scoring in the last few days is within my capability, and I know I can score well.
“I will select which events I want to play in on the Q Tour, but right now, it is all about getting that tournament feeling, and I am pleased to be getting that feeling back.”
