Disgraced UK Champs winner slapped with 20-month ban is invited to return for tournament

Disgraced snooker star Zhao Xintong could take part in this year's UK Championship after serving a ban for his part in a match-fixing scandal which rocked the sport

A snooker star banned for 20 months as part of a match-fixing scandal could play at the UK Championship – three years after winning the tournament.

Zhao Xintong was one of a group of 10 Chinese players to be given bans in 2023 as part of the sport’s biggest match-fixing scandal. The 27-year-old was not found to have thrown a match himself, although he accepted charges of being a party to another player fixing two matches and betting on matches himself.

Zhao, who won the UK Championship in 2021 after beating Luca Brecel in the final, was initially banned two-and-a-half years before the sanction was reduced to one year and eight months after his guilty plea and early admissions.

He completed his suspension in September and has already tasted tournament victory again since returning to action, winning a WPBSA Q-Tour event in Sweden in October. That success has earned him an invite to the qualifiers for the UK Championship, which take place in Leicester from November 16 to 21.

The main 32-player tournament will be staged at the York Barbican from November 23 to December 1. The top 16 players are seeded through to the final 32, with the other 16 emerging from qualifying. Given his form before and since his ban, it would be no surprise if he came through qualifying.

Zhao’s return to the sport has divided opinion among snooker players, pundits and fans. Some believe he deserved a longer suspension or even to be banned for life. Others, meanwhile, believe he deserves a second chance having served his time.

Addressing the issue during Eurosport’s coverage of the International Championship in China, commentator Dave Hendon said: “Zhao Xintong will be in the UK Championship qualifiers. I’m sure there’ll be a lot of discussion on that.”

HAVE YOUR SAY! Does Zhao Xintong deserve a second chance? Tell us in the comments section.

Fellow commentator and former professional Neal Foulds added: “It’s big news. I think everyone deserves a second chance and we look forward to seeing him play. He may not qualify of course.”

Prior to his ban, Zhao had practised with Ronnie O’Sullivan, who boldly said the Chinese ace had the potential to be the greatest player of all time. The Rocket even compared Zhao to tennis icon Roger Federer.

Speaking in 2022, O’Sullivan said: “He could be the greatest of all time with his talent, his ability. I always say he’s Roger Federer with a snooker cue in his hands. He’s like me, he’s a quick learner."

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