Latest news with #ZHAOXINTONG
The Sun
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Zhao Xintong spent 2024 World Snooker Championship pushing fluffy Pomeranian around in a PRAM during ban
ZHAO XINTONG is on the brink of making snooker history at the World Snooker Championship. However, go back 12 months and instead of a snooker table, the Chinese cueist was walking his dog around in a pram. 4 4 The 28-year-old ended his afternoon session against Mark Williams needing just one frame to be crowned world champion after racing into a 17-8 lead. But as he looks to become the first ever champion from Asia, Zhao's circumstances could not have been more different. Zhao was in the middle of a 20-month ban due to his involvement in a snooker corruption probe - although he did not directly fix a match. The suspension meant Xintong was stripped of his place on the professional circuit and relegated to amateur status. He regained his place through the Q Tour and came through FOUR matches in qualifying for the Crucible. But one year ago, Zhao was busy posting photos of his Pomeranian on Instagram. His first photo with the pet appears to have come from October 2023 when Zhao shared a snap of himself sitting next to it, simply captioned with a dog emoji. In posts since then, he has been seen on walks with the dog in Shanghai, China, as it sported some cute yellow boots. And last Spring as Kyren Wilson was crowned world champion at the Crucible, Zhao was sharing snaps of his fluffy dog as he took it around in a pram, including another photo of it winking at the camera. Dog-lover Zhao has also shared photos of his pet while he jets around the globe, describing it as "super cute", including images of him enjoying a sunset by a lake in his homeland. After returning to the snooker tour as an amateur, Zhao was seen cuddling his dog in a post in March. Later on he shared photos of the pair going for a walk around London and relaxing before the start of the World's. Zhao beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 17-7 in the semi-final to reach the final but back in May 2022 was seen enjoying dinner with the seven-time world champion as the Rocket cuddled his own dog. The 49-year-old had said that year that his new dog had "restored my faith in life", so Zhao's decision to get a dog may have been partly inspired by O'Sullivan's glowing review.
The Sun
05-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Will Zhao Xintong receive World Snooker Championship prize money as an amateur?
ZHAO XINTONG is on the cusp of history as he closes in on the World Snooker Championship title. The Chinese cueist looks set to become the first Asian and the first amateur to win the iconic Crucible crown. 1 Zhao holds a 17-8 lead over three-time world champion Mark Williams heading into the last session of the final this evening. The 28-year-old has been the standout player at the Crucible, knocking out the likes of seven-time world champ Ronnie O'Sullivan en route to the final. Many fans have questioned whether Zhao's amateur status would affect the prize money he would collect from his stunning run at the tournament - SunSport brings you the answer below. Will Zhao Xintong receive World Snooker Championship prize money as an amateur? Zhao was tipped by many to break into snooker's elite after winning the 2021 UK Championship and 2022 German Masters. But his career was paused in June 2023 after he was banned for 20 months for his role in a match-fixing scandal. Zhao was one of 10 players involved who were suspended from snooker, but crucially, he did not fix matches himself. Due to his involvement in the scandal, the Chinese star was relegated to amateur status. Amateurs in some sports, such as golf, aren't eligible to win prize money during events. However, this ruling does not apply in snooker, meaning Zhao will receive all £500,000 for winning the World Championship, should he go all the way. Controversially, the Chinese cueist will also keep his ranking points after he earned his way back onto the tour following his suspension through his success in four events on the amateur Q Tour. Should he pick up the Crucible crown, Zhao will surge up to 11th in the world rankings and also be seeded second for every tournament next season - except for the Worlds defence, where he will be the No1. On the matter, a WST spokesperson said: "The principle clearly established in snooker is that amateurs can earn prize money and ranking points in the same way that professionals do, and there are many precedents for this. "Zhao has earned his top 64 place on merit, he will keep the rankings points he has earned and if he wins the World Championship, he will be seeded second for most events next season which again is a long-standing principle. "Our entry pack was agreed with the Players Board before the start of this season. "We accept that the wording in this particular paragraph could have been clearer, but the principles are unchanged and well established."
The Sun
05-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Why was Zhao Xintong banned from snooker? World Snooker Championship finalist in match-fixing scandal
ZHAO XINTONG seeks to become the first Chinese cueist to win the World Snooker Championship. The 28-year-old defeated snooker's unsurpassable Ronnie O'Sullivan in an outstandingly composed semi-final performance, which saw him book his final dust-up with three-time champion Mark Williams. 3 3 Zhao produced a brilliant game of snooker, demonstrating his crisp cueing and good positional play to pounce on O'Sullivan's blunders. "Watch him - amazing - he's the one, could be the Roger Federer of snooker," O'Sullivan, who has been a long-time admirer of Xintong's talent, said in a 2019 interview. He is expected to be one of the sport's new superstars with a triumph at the Crucible. The 28-year-old plays as an amateur in Sheffield and had not competed in a professional competition since 2022 until the season began. But, with a Triple Crown victory under his belt, this isn't your typical amateur snooker player. Why was Zhao Xintong banned from snooker? Zhao's blossoming career was put on hold in January 2023 when he was suspended in connection with a high-profile match-fixing investigation. The WPBSA found him guilty of match manipulation and betting between 2019 and 2022, but exonerated him of actively fixing his own matches. The prominent issue wrapped snooker, when ten Chinese players were accused of various levels of match-fixing, and Liang Wenbo and Li Hang were eventually banned from the sport for life. The WPBSA disciplinary committee that conducted the hearing described former world No. 11 Liang's attitude as "particularly disgraceful". The two highest-profile figures involved in the scandal were 2021 Masters winner Yan Bingtao, who is presently serving a five-year ban until December 2027. And Zhao, who was ranked ninth in the world when his suspension began, having added the 2022 German Masters title to his stunning UK Championship victory. Zhao, who did not personally toss a match, acknowledged allegations of assisting another player in rigging two matches and betting on matches himself, for which he received a 20-month sentence - reduced from the initial 30. He returned to competition on the amateur Q Tour in September, winning tournaments in Manchester, Sweden, Austria, and Belgium, as well as qualifying for the UK Championship, where he lost to Shaun Murphy in the opening round. 'Two years ago I made a little mistake and now I come back, so I know how important snooker is for me,' said Zhao after beating Walden to secure his spot at the UK Championship last year. 'I want to come back to the snooker table and get trophies. These are very big lessons for me, it makes me appreciate snooker more."
Scottish Sun
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
World Snooker Championship 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Zhao Xintong holds mammoth five-frame lead over Mark Williams
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ZHAO XINTONG heads into day two of the World Snooker Championship final with a mammoth 11-6 lead over Welshman Mark Williams. The omens aren't looking good for three-time champ Williams - nobody has ever managed to overturn an overnight deficit of five frames or more on day two of a world final. Zhao is eyeing history as he looks to become the first Asian player and first amateur to conquer the Crucible. The winner of the blockbuster final won't just take home the iconic trophy, but will leave Sheffield with a huge cheque for £500,000. Start time: 1pm/7pm BST 1pm/7pm BST TV channel: BBC One & Two/TNT Sports 1 & 3 BBC One & Two/TNT Sports 1 & 3 FREE live stream: BBC iPlayer CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Follow our live blog below...
The Sun
30-04-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Controversial World Snooker Championship star Zhao Xintong activates little-known rule as he bags £100,000 at Crucible
ZHAO XINTONG has activated a little-known rankings clause after reaching the last-four of the World Championships. The Chinese star beat Chris Wakelin to book his place in the Crucible semi-finals on Wednesday. 2 Zhao, 28, will receive a guaranteed £100,000 following the 13-5 win over The Beast. The 28-year-old is rebuilding his career after a 20-month ban for match fixing. Xintong did not fix a match himself, but was one of 10 Chinese stars suspended in the sport's biggest corruption scandal in 2023. Despite starting again as an amateur, The Cyclone has stormed up the rankings this year. Zhao now enters the top 64 in the world thanks to his six-figure payout in Sheffield. The Chinese star was already set to rejoin the pro ranks with a two-year tour card earned on the Q Tour. He was due to start next season with no ranking points. But he has now secured a one-year card thanks to his exploits at the Crucible. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK And Zhao will be able to retain those valuable ranking points gained from his run in Sheffield thanks to a little-known loophole. A WST statement confirmed: "Former UK Championship winner Zhao is already enjoying the deepest ever run in this event by an amateur, though he is set to rejoin the pro tour next season. "If he reaches the last four, the guaranteed prize money of £100,000 will be enough to lift him into the top 64 of the Johnstone's Paint World Rankings. "Which means that going into 2025/26, the 28-year-old will retain the ranking points he has earned this season." Zhao has looked more than comfortable in South Yorkshire and made short work of an in-form Wakelin. Following his Round 2 win over Lei Peifan, he said: "The most intriguing part of the Crucible, is it doesn't just test your overall game level, but also your mental toughness. "I think this match was also a self-challenge for me. If you want to win the World Championship, you have to go through challenges like this. I hope I can stay here longer. "Although it's my first time in the quarter-finals, I hope to go even further. I believe I have the ability. "Over the next few days, I will continue adjusting my form and sharpen my touch during practice. "Because the opponents ahead are all very strong, I must maintain an even calmer mindset."
