Disgraced former UK champion, 28, comes back from 20-month ban to reach World Snooker Championship
FORMER UK Champion Zhao Xintong – classified as an amateur player – qualified for the Crucible following a 10-8 last-round win over Elliot Slessor.
This time last year Xintong, 28, was serving a 20-month ban after being caught up in the match-fixing storm that involved 10 Chinese players.
He said: “I’m very happy because I know the Crucible is very difficult to be back. I do it again, I’m so proud of myself.
“Hopefully I can really come back to being a top player. But I need more wins, so just try me best.”
The Chinese ace was one of 10 players banned from snooker in the summer of 2023.
Xintong accepted that he was a party to another player fixing two snooker contests on separate occasions in March 2022.
The former UK Championship winner also bet on matches during a three-year period.
And on top of his 20-month ban, Xintong also had to pay £7,500 in costs.
He returned to snooker in Q Tour after his suspension expired in September last year.
He said at the time: “I am very happy because I have hoped for this day for a long time.
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“I knew it would be very hard to get back on to the tour and I needed to play very well because all the players on Q Tour are really good.
“I went a long time without playing a competitive match and I have really enjoyed being back.
“To play on the tour, I need to be winning and gain some confidence. I will do my best to win this title, I am guaranteed to be on the tour next season now but I still want to do the best I can.
“I want to enjoy the matches but if I play well, I know I can be a champion against on the tour. I believe in myself so let’s do it.
“Two years ago I made a little mistake, now I’ve come back. I know how important snooker is to me and now I just want to come back to the snooker table.
“These two years have been very long for me, I’ve practiced every day. I knew I would come back so I need to keep confident in myself.
“I believe that if I play well then I can beat anybody. I’m just going to try my best.”
Xintong, who returns to the World Snookr Tour next season, will be a dangerous qualifier for the top 16 seeds.
The draw for the 2025 World Snooker Championship takes place on Thursday morning and will be broadcast live on BBC radio.