British snooker star benefits from Zhao Xintong's controversial World Championship win after rivals blasted rules
A BRITISH snooker star has inadvertently benefited from Zhao Xintong's historic World Championship win.
Dylan Emery has regained his pro tour card for the next two seasons after finishing behind Zhao in the amateur Q Tour Europe Rankings.
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The 24-year-old cueist from Caerphilly has now earned back his professional stripes after being relegated from the tour in 2024.
That's because Emery now takes World Champion Zhao's pro ticket from this season's Q Tour rankings.
As Zhao broke into the world's top 64 from his Crucible win, that becomes his method of qualifying for next season's pro circuit.
So his two-year ticket via the Q Tour rankings becomes vacant for Emery.
An official WTA statement read: "With overall Q Tour Europe winner Zhao Xintong having subsequently gone on to regain his place as a top 64 player following his historic success at the recent World Championship.
"In accordance with the Q Tour entry conditions, which state that the top ranked eligible player will receive a World Snooker Tour card, Emery will therefore take the place."
Following the end of his 20 month ban for match-fixing, Zhao returned to snooker's seconding circuit, in a bid to win promotion back to the main tour.
The Chinese star won the Q Tour comfortably with an event to spare and was invited to take part in the World Championships.
And Zhao created in history in Sheffield, becoming the first Asian winner of the sport's showpiece event.
The first amateur, and only the third qualifier to conquer the Crucible, Zhao won a record nine matches across en route to glory.
Emotional Zhao Xintong shares touching moment with rarely-seen girlfriend after World Snooker Championship triumph
Due to his winning streak coming at snooker's richest event, the prize money Zhao won had a big impact on his world ranking status.
As a non-tour card holder until next season, Zhao didn't have a ranking at the start of the Championship, but he earned enough money to break into the world's top 64.
He was therefore able to keep his ranking points going into next season, instead of starting on zero.
But, in going all the way at the Crucible, Zhao pocketed the first prize of £500,000, and moved up to No.11 in the world rankings.
The situation is similar to that of Luke Littler when he reached the final of the 2023/24 World Darts Championship as an amateur.
Even though Emery can thank Zhao for taking the crown, many snooker players thought the 28-year-old should have been banned from playing at the World Champs.
Zhao previously admitted being party to another player fixing two matches while betting on matches himself.
That saw him handed a 30-month global ban which was later reduced to 20.
However, the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association (CBSA) chose to stick with the original 30-month ban, meaning he will not be able to return to playing in his homeland until July.
And former world champ Shaun Murphy lashed out at the decision.
Murphy said: "Asking the question, how can a player who is still banned by their own governing body be seen and be deemed to be in good standing?
"It seemed fairly black and white to most of us that he wasn't in good standing with his national governing body.
Emery enjoyed a fantastic Q Tour campaign, winning event two in Sofia, Bulgaria, reaching the final of event seven in Walsall and making two further semi-finals.
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