Zhao Xintong could possibly be again enjoying aggressive snooker as early as subsequent month together with his betting ban set to finish on Sunday.
The previous UK champion obtained caught up within the big match-fixing scandal that rocked snooker in direction of the top of 2022 and into 2023.
Ten gamers from China had been suspended from competitors in the course of the 2022/23 marketing campaign and subsequently given bans of various lengths from the game following an investigation.
Liang Wenbo, a former English Open champion who reached as excessive as quantity 11 on this planet rankings, and Li Hold had been thought of the ring leaders.
The pair acquired lifetime bans from snooker for his or her distinguished roles, with former Masters champion Yan Bingtao additionally handed a multi-year sentence.
Zhao was given the lightest punishment among the many ten concerned after being charged with caring in fixing matches on the World Snooker Tour along with betting on snooker.
A responsible plea helped the 27 year-old get his unique sentence of two years and 6 months diminished to at least one yr and eight months.
Which means Zhao’s suspension will finish on September 1st, 2024.
There had been some confusion as as to whether the previous world quantity six would be capable of instantly compete in worldwide occasions.
The Chinese language Billiards and Snooker Affiliation upheld his unique suspension final yr, which means he can’t enter occasions run by that organisation till July, 2025.
The World Skilled Billiards and Snooker Affiliation’s standard stance is {that a} participant who isn’t in good standing with their nationwide federation can’t take part of their tournaments.
Nevertheless, the WPBSA has confirmed that stipulation gained’t be the case with Zhao and that, for instance, he’s free to enter occasions on the beginner Q Tour within the months forward.
“After an in depth WPBSA investigation, Zhao Xintong admitted to caring in match fixing at a listening to earlier than an unbiased Disciplinary Fee,” the WPBSA instructed SnookerHQ.com in an official assertion.
“In June 2023, he was sentenced to a suspension of 1 yr and eight months, and to pay prices of £7,500. The suspension was to run from when he was first suspended in January, 2023.”
“After this sentence, the Chinese language Billiards and Snooker Affiliation (CBSA) imposed an extended suspension.
“The CBSA have now confirmed their sanction solely applies to mainland China and that Zhao Xintong is permitted to play in occasions exterior of China from the top of his WPBSA suspension.
“Zhao can have served the suspension imposed by the Unbiased Disciplinary Fee by 1st September, 2024, and he has paid his prices order.
“Because of this he’s eligible to play in WPBSA-governed occasions from 2nd September, 2024.”
Zhao will first have a possibility to compete on the second Q Tour occasion of the brand new season to be held in Bulgaria from Sept 20-22.
The 2022 German Masters champion, who has reportedly nonetheless been working towards laborious throughout his suspension, will hope to rapidly regain his place on the skilled tour by way of the feeder beginner circuit.
The highest-ranked participant on the finish of the 2024/25 Q Tour season will obtain a two-year professional card, with extra gamers additionally gaining promotion by means of a separate play-off match.
If Zhao fails on the Q Tour, Q College will present him with one other probability to get again onto the primary tour forward of the 2025/26 time period.
Zhao, who beat Luca Brecel to win the 2021 UK Championship, had been thought of one of many brightest younger skills within the recreation previous to his ban.
It will likely be attention-grabbing to see whether or not or not he can get what as soon as was a promising profession again on monitor.
Featured photograph credit score: WST