Latest news with #WorldProfessionalBilliardsandSnookerAssociation
Wales Online
6 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Zhao Xintong shows his true character despite still being banned from snooker in China
Zhao Xintong shows his true character despite still being banned from snooker in China Zhao Xintong became the first Asian player to win the World Snooker Championship earlier this month - but he is still banned from competing in his native China Zhao Xintong has big plans this year (Image: undefined via Getty Images ) Zhao Xintong is currently unable to pursue his dream of winning a tournament in China due to an ongoing snooker ban. The 28-year-old made history earlier this month by becoming the first Asian player to win the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible thanks to an 18-12 win over Mark Williams. However, he remains barred from competing in his home country. The world championship was only Zhao's second professional tournament since returning from a suspension related to a match-fixing investigation involving 10 players, which dates back to January 2023. The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) reduced his initial 30-month ban to 20 months after it was established that, while he had knowingly placed bets on fixed games, he had not personally fixed any matches. Despite being permitted to compete globally, the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association (CBSA) has upheld the original ban, meaning Zhao is still prohibited from competing in China until 1 July 2025. Since his triumph at the World Snooker Championship, Zhao has spent time in his homeland and expressed his determination to build on his success next season. As a former UK Open winner, Zhao is now just a Masters win away from achieving the coveted Triple Crown, and he is also eager to lift a trophy on Chinese soil. Setting his sights on becoming the first Chinese or Asian player to win a snooker title on home soil, he told the South China Morning Post: "No Chinese or Asian player has been able to embroider that little crown on their waistcoat so far. Article continues below "So I think this is one of my goals. I will do my best to play well in every match and tournament, but I want to hoist a trophy in China – this is something I have yet to do. I am also looking forward to playing in the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong next year. I want to achieve good results here, preferably winning it, and I'd be very happy." With his suspension ending before the new snooker season, Zhao could potentially realise his dream at the Shanghai Masters, scheduled from July 28 to August 3, reports the Express. Since relocating to England in 2016, Zhao, known as 'The Cyclone', has acknowledged the positive impact Sheffield has had on his career. World snooker champion Zhao Xintong is banned from competing in China (Image: (Image: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images) ) Article continues below He also believes his world title victory could significantly influence snooker's growth in China. Reflecting on his World Championship triumph and its implications, Zhao said: "I haven't quite thought about what's different for me as a player after winning the World Championship. "Everything is just starting and I am convinced that there is more to come, and I have to do more and bring glory to China. The win was also a breakthrough for snooker in China – because this had not been done before by any Chinese player, I think the younger generation will now be more confident and motivated." Just a few weeks following the Shanghai Masters, snooker fans can look forward to more action from China with the Wuhan Open set for August 24-30. Zhao also shared his anticipation for next year's World Grand Prix, scheduled to take place in Hong Kong from February 3-8.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Zhao Xintong shows true colours as he shares ambition once snooker ban ends
Zhao Xintong became the first Asian player to win the World Snooker Championship earlier this month, but is still unable to compete in his homeland of China Newly crowned world snooker champion Zhao Xintong is currently unable to realise his dream of winning a tournament in China due to an ongoing ban. The 28-year-old made history earlier this month by becoming the first Asian player to clinch the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible, but he remains barred from competing in his home country. The world championship was only Zhao's second professional tournament since returning from a suspension linked to a match-fixing investigation involving 10 players, which dates back to January 2023. His initial 30-month ban was reduced to 20 months by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) after it was established that, while he had knowingly placed bets on fixed games, he hadn't personally rigged any matches. Despite being cleared to compete globally, the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association (CBSA) has upheld the original ban, meaning Zhao is still not permitted to compete in China until 1 July 2025. Since his triumphant win at the World Snooker Championship, Zhao has spent time in his homeland and expressed his determination to build on his success next season, reports the Express. As a former UK Open winner, Zhao is just a Masters win away from securing the coveted Triple Crown, and he's also eager to lift a trophy on Chinese soil. On his ambitions, he told the South China Morning Post: "No Chinese or Asian player has been able to embroider that little crown on their waistcoat so far. "So I think this is one of my goals. I will do my best to play well in every match and tournament, but I want to hoist a trophy in China – this is something I have yet to do. "I am also looking forward to playing in the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong next year. I want to achieve good results here, preferably winning it, and I'd be very happy." Zhao won't have to wait long to chase his dreams, as his suspension lifts with the new season's dawn, possibly making the Shanghai Masters (July 28-August 3) his ticket to triumph. Since settling in England back in 2016 and embracing Sheffield's impact on his career, 'The Cyclone' muses over his World Championship victory's ripple effect, lifting the aspirations of China's budding snooker talents. He said: "I haven't quite thought about what's different for me as a player after winning the World Championship. Everything is just starting and I am convinced that there is more to come, and I have to do more and bring glory to China. "The win was also a breakthrough for snooker in China – because this had not been done before by any Chinese player, I think the younger generation will now be more confident and motivated." Just a few weeks following the Shanghai Masters, snooker fans can look forward to more action from China with the Wuhan Open set for August 24-30. Zhao also expressed his anticipation for next year's World Grand Prix, scheduled to take place in Hong Kong from February 3-8.
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
King loses appeal against snooker match-fixing ban
Snooker player Mark King has lost his appeal against a five-year ban for was handed the ban in November 2024 after an independent disciplinary committee found the Englishman guilty of one count of match-fixing and one count of providing inside information on a former Northern Ireland Open champion was suspended by the sport's world governing body, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), on 18 March was after suspicious betting was reported on his match against Joe Perry on 13 February that year at the Welsh Open, which King lost 4-0. Perry was not accused of any was ordered to pay over £68,000 in costs and banned from the sport for five 51, contested the punishment and his appeal was heard by an independent appeals committee on 8-9 April former world number 11 presented four points to be heard within his appeal, one of which he chose to abandon at the start of the stated that bettors placing large sums on 4-1 and 4-2, as well as the actual result of 4-0, weakened the argument that he had agreed to lose also argued that his relationship with one of the people connected to the betting was he complained that the disciplinary committee reached a number of wrong conclusions surrounding his form and an injury he was suffering with going into the match against Perry."Nowhere in this appeal has it been demonstrated that a factual decision is so wrong it could not have been reached, or an evaluative decision is so wrong that it can be said to be unreasonable," the independent appeals committee's final report added: "In our view the committee reached reasonable, rational, logical, clear and reasoned conclusions based on all of the evidence which they clearly considered carefully and we find no reason to interfere with the conclusions it reached."King will be eligible for a return to the sport in March 2028.
Irish Daily Mirror
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Mark Allen takes issue as controversial snooker star ousted from key role
Matthew Selt, a contentious figure in the world of professional snooker, has been ousted from his role as vice-chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (Players) while Mark Allen has taken issue with the decision making process. Despite only assuming the position last year, Selt's departure is effective immediately. The WPBSA players' association released a statement saying: "On 6 May 2025 The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (Players) Limited held a general meeting of its members at which an ordinary resolution to remove Mr. Matthew Selt from the office of director was passed, with immediate effect. "The company will proceed in accordance with its governance and regulatory obligations following this change and no further comment will be made at this time." The reasons behind Selt's dismissal remain undisclosed. However, former world No. 1 Mark Allen has publicly criticised the lack of player involvement in the decision-making process. Allen took to X, reposting the statement and commenting: "Although factually correct, the WPBSA's players only member is the WPBSA. No players got a vote on this." Earlier this year, Selt received a three-month suspended ban and a £10,000 fine for his "rude and aggressive" conduct at the 2024 Saudi Arabia Masters. He faced three charges of breaching the code of conduct during the Riyadh event in September. The world No. 34 faced accusations of aggressive behaviour and using abusive language towards a Matchroom executive and a fellow WPBSA member. Following his 5-3 loss to China's Pang Junxu, Selt was also accused of sending an abusive text to a fellow WPBSA players' association member. Selt accepted all three charges and offered a "full and wholehearted apology" to those involved, with the acknowledgement that he was under significant stress and pressure at the time. He was also required to pay £11,000 towards the WPBSA's legal costs. After qualifying for the Crucible, Selt, who lost 10-4 to Xiao Guodong in the first round, immediately apologised for his behaviour. The 40 year old said in a statement: "I have to apologise and say sorry to Jimmy [Robertson]. He said that I was distracting him and putting him off. So this win, there is no good feeling whatsoever towards it. "My emotions are pretty numb, to be honest. Jimmy pulled me to one side after one of the frames and had a word. He said: 'What are you doing? You're basically putting me off.' Which I obviously wasn't trying to do, but obviously got to him. "I feel genuinely gutted, to be honest. I'm happy to win but not to the point where my actions may have contributed towards his declining performance. That's sport, I suppose. I wasn't doing anything completely out of order. But my feeling is pretty flatline and I just want to send my apologies to Jimmy."
Economist
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Economist
The men's and women's world snooker champions are now both Chinese
It has been a long time coming. On May 5th a soft-spoken, left-handed 28-year-old named Zhao Xintong (pictured) raised the famed trophy in the legendary Crucible Theatre in the northern English city of Sheffield, and was crowned men's snooker champion of the world. He had defeated a three-time winner, Mark Williams, by 18 frames to 12, thereby pocketing £500,000 ($660,000) in prize money. 'This is going to take snooker to another level,' Jason Ferguson, chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (wpbsa), the sport's governing body, told the bbc.
