Zhao Xintong: Who is the first world champion in China snooker and why was he banished? | Snooker news

Who is the first world champion of snooker from China Zhao Xintong and why did he serve a 20-month ban on sport?

Zhao was crowned the first world champion in China’s snooker after resisting a moving Return of Mark Williams to fill an 18-12 victory in the crucible.

The 28 -year -old man obtained the famous trophy and a check for £ 500,000, also becoming the only third qualifier and the first amateur player to triumph at the crucible, having lost his tour card in January 2023 for his part in a scandal of fixing the matches.

Zhao had admitted to having been part of the effort to repair or invent to set two games involving his compatriot Yan Bingtao, the former Masters winner.

He was one of the 10 Chinese snooker players involved in a game fixing survey, but received the shortest suspension given by the WPBSA. Zhao turned out to be in violation of “being part of another player fixing two games”, as well as betting on the snooler games. He also had to pay £ 7,500 in costs for his part in the operation.

Despite frequent contrition for its involvement, some may have there who believe that its triumph is tainted.

By referring to his 20 -month ban which expired in September, Zhao said: “I had almost two years not to play in tour competitions and that is why I said that my first target was to qualify for the Creuset.

“I cannot believe that I continued to be champion, but I’m back now and I want to continue.”

Ronnie O’Sullivan spoke of the prohibition of Zhao of Sport

Ronnie O’Sullivan said: “Yeah, I think it was unhappy for some of the boys. I think they were not really involved from what I bring together. So some of them, you just think, it was really hard for them. [of] Naivety, I suppose. “”

Zhao will return home to China to show the trophy this week and revel in a triumph that has long been to come, since China’s original snooker, Ding Junhui, won the first of three titles in the United Kingdom in 2005.

However, Ding failed the Crucible, and when the other major winner of China, Yan Bingtao, champion of the 2021 masters, was prohibited until 2027 for his role in the case of match matches, there were real fears that the love story of China with sport – and its lucrative ear potential – could have culminated.

Classification points and prices

Jason Ferguson, president of the world director of sport, WPBSA, says that Zhao deserves to keep ranking points after getting his lap card again via the Q tour rather than Sheffield.

Ferguson said about the scandal for fixing matches: “Things like it happens in all sports and this is how you manage it. It is a disaster when it happens, but we soon returned to the Chinese market.

“We worked alongside the players to make sure that the same mistakes do not happen again. We are very convinced that sport has passed through it and that I can only see it in the future.”

Zhao beat Mark Williams to secure the world title and become the first winner of the China tournament

The BBC submarine, Ken Doherty, expressed his concerns that some players are “in arms”, declaring that there is a disagreement among professionals concerning Zhao’s crucible income to count for his ranking.

“The big question at this point concerns the money price,” said the 1997 world champion. “Many players are a bit in hand.

His victory over Williams was the ninth of the Zhao tournament, a record for any champion, and his 47th in 49 games since he undertook his return with a 3-0 white from Lithuanian Vilius Schulte-Ebbert in the vicinity of a quality lap.

The apparent heir

Having swept the British title in 2021, there were fears that Zhao’s ban could destroy the career of a player who had been chosen by O’Sullivan and Jimmy White distinguishing him as a future star shortly after receiving his first tour card in 2016, and three times Williams Williams added the most praise that I have ever seen “.

“What a Zhao Potter is,” said Welshman Williams. “I’m glad I’m too old when he dominates the game. I only have admiration for what he has done, including qualifying. He hasn’t played for two years, has hit everyone. There is a new superstar of the game.”

Williams added later: “It is as good to look at as O’Sullivan when he was younger. He walks just around the table and pot balls from anywhere as if he had no care in the world.

“Xintong will be a national hero now. He will be on the first page of each media and I am sure that there are Chinese companies ready to throw him thousands.

“It’s great that our sport has someone at the top that attacks so much and so young.”

New era of Chinese stars

Nicknamed “The Cyclone”, Zhao’s revolutionary victory in Sheffield should inaugurate a new brilliant era of Chinese stars.

He is one of the five Chinese players who finished the season in the top 16 of the world, and one of the 14 currently living in the top 50 of the world – all except three are under 30 years old.

Wu yize

Wu Yize has reached two classification finals this season

The 21 -year -old from Lanzhou produced the top 20 of the world after reaching two classification finals this season, losing against Neil Robertson and Lei Peifan in English and Scottish opens respectively. The big Wu with fast blows pushed Mark Williams nearby in the first round in Sheffield this year, extending the possible finalist to a defeat of 10-8.

Yuan Sijun

Yuan Sijun joined the tour at the age of 17 in 2017

Yuan joined the tour at the age of 17 in 2017 and it did not take long before the applause of some of the greats of the game sounded in his ears. Yuan quickly rebounded relegation during Covid, and last season won decisive executives against Mark Allen and Neil Robertson on the semi-finals of the German masters.

Gao Yang

Yang Gao is an offensive left -hander that has several world junior titles

An offensive left -hander that has several world junior titles, the 20 -year -old will return to the main tour next season after winning the WSF world crown in February. Gao was notified of his intention in the crucible qualifications of this year when he beat the former semi-finalist Stephen Maguire 10-3 before losing a final decision maker at Lei Peifan.

Lei Peifan

Lei Peifan triumphed these seasons Scottish Open

The 21 -year -old, Lei, became the least classified player to win a classification title in more than 30 years when he triumphed for the Scottish Open of this season, after fighting Allen and Shaun Murphy to decide on executives. Lei showed his solid temperament to the crucible rock this year by pouring the reigning champion Kyren Wilson via another decision -maker on the day of the opening.

Il Guoqiang

The Guoqiang won the prestigious recruit title of the year

Hunan’s 24 -year -old has already compiled an impressive list of hair leathers. During his first season on the tour, he sank Kyren Wilson and breathtaking Mark Williams into the German masters to win the prestigious recruit of the year. He followed this season with two victories against Ronnie O’Sullivan at the Championship League and the English Open respectively.