Snooker star banned for match-fixing scandal gets pro tour card | Other

Zhao Xintong earned a two-year card on the World Snooker Tour after finishing top of the WPBSA Q Tour Europe rankings.

The Chinese potter, who was suspended for 20 months for his involvement in a match-fixing scandal that rocked the sport, returned to snooker this year in the Q Tour with ambitions of returning to the professional game.

Zhao, 27, did not directly organize a match, but agreed to be charged with being complicit in another player fixing two matches and betting on the matches himself. A total of 10 players were banned in the corruption scandal, Liang Wenbo and Li Hang were suspended for life.

His lead gradually built up and the early exits of Dylan Emery and Ryan Thomerson in Mons, Belgium allowed Zhao to remain uncaught and finish at the top of the European rankings, earning him a place on the World Snooker Tour.

“I am very happy because I have been hoping for this day for a long time,” Zhao said. “I knew it would be very difficult to return to the tour and I had to play very well because all the players on the Q Tour are really good.

“I went a long time without playing a competitive match and I really enjoyed being back. To play on the circuit, I need to win and gain confidence. I will do my best to win this title, I am guaranteed to be on the circuit next season now but I still want to do my best.

“I just want to enjoy the matches but if I play well, I know I can be champion again on the circuit. I believe in myself, so let’s do it.

After victories in Stockholm, Manchester and Vienna, Zhao was able to compete in the UK Championship qualifiers last year.

As the winner of the 2021 event, Zhao made it through qualifying and played his first professional match since his suspension, suffering a close 6–5 loss to Shaun Murphy.

And shortly before that match, he called his indiscretions a “small mistake” and vowed to return to the professional game, which he will do in July after the World Championship.

“Two years ago I made a little mistake, now I’m coming back,” he told the BBC. “I know how important snooker is to me and now I just want to get back to the snooker table.

“These two years have been very long for me, I trained every day. I knew I would come back so I have to keep faith in myself. I believe that if I play well I can beat anyone. I am I’m just going to do my best.”