Introduction
It only seems like yesterday when Zhao Xintong was embroiled as one of the players involved in the match-fixing saga in snooker. After receiving a 20-month ban, this Chinese whizkid is back, winning the Q Tour in Stockholm, producing eight wins, eight centuries and one 147 break in his 4-1 win against Shaun Liu, the first on the Q Tour to beat Craig Steadman 4-3 in the final. It seems he is making the headlines for the right reasons this time. The player who won the UK Championship and the German Masters in two months doesn’t seem like he has been in exile despite this latest win coming off the back of only his second appearance since serving his ban. He is a player who is now hoping he can regain his professional tour card.
A Second Chance
Snooker players have received a ban in the past for all the right reasons and have not returned to the game. However, if you hold your hands up and admit your shortcomings, then there must be an avenue for a return, provided you don’t rekindle snooker into the cesspit of shame. Zhao has served his time and, in my opinion, is far too good a player to stay off the main tour for too long. When he is on fire, he is a pleasure to watch and provides first-class snooker, high-break building and some mouth-watering shots and pots. This Chinese player has an advanced snooker brain despite being only 27. He is fearless, brave and attacking. He is a player who has already beaten all the best in his short career and got to number nine in the rankings when we last saw him on the tour.
I like exciting snooker players, and Zhao is one of them. He is hungry and determined. A sportsman with a quest who doesn’t give up until that silverware is in his trophy cabinet. His win in Stockholm is no surprise and proves once again what a class act this Chinese player is. When young, you are easily influenced by pressure from outside forces, and Xintong fell foul of this trap. I am not excusing his actions; when you fall foul of the rules, you should be punished. However, this player has a bright future, provided he doesn’t trip up again. Watch this space for a return for this Chinese potting machine! However, he is still banned from serving from the CBSA until June 2025.
