Zhao Xintong will return to aggressive motion on the snooker desk when he participates at Q Tour 2 in Bulgaria later this month.
It had already been anticipated to be the case, however it’s now formally confirmed that the previous UK champion will likely be on the match in Sofia from September twentieth to twenty second.
Zhao will play Vilius Shulte-Ebbert in his first match again after getting caught up within the big match-fixing scandal that rocked snooker in the direction of the top of 2022 and into 2023.
Ten gamers from China have 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 the earth rankings, and Li Dangle have 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 worrying 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 lowered to at least one yr and eight months, which meant Zhao’s suspension ended on September 1st of this yr.
There had initially been some confusion as as to if the previous world quantity six would have the ability to instantly compete in worldwide occasions.
The Chinese language Billiards and Snooker Affiliation upheld his unique suspension final yr, that means he can’t enter occasions run by that organisation till July, 2025.
The World Skilled Billiards and Snooker Affiliation’s regular stance is {that a} participant who isn’t in good standing with their nationwide federation can’t take part of their tournaments.
Nonetheless, the WPBSA confirmed in August that the same old stipulation received’t apply on this event.
“After an in depth WPBSA investigation, Zhao Xintong admitted to worrying in match fixing at a listening to earlier than an impartial Disciplinary Fee,” the WPBSA instructed SnookerHQ.com in an official assertion in August.
“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 outdoors 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.
“Which means that he’s eligible to play in WPBSA-governed occasions from 2nd September, 2024.”
Zhao, who received the 2022 German Masters champion and reached as excessive as quantity six on the earth rankings, will look to shortly regain his place on the skilled tour.
One of the crucial apparent routes again is thru Q Tour, the feeder beginner circuit that can grant entry to the principle tour for 4 gamers.
The highest-ranked beginner on the finish of the season will achieve computerized promotion, whereas three further locations will likely be up for grabs in a play-off match.
If Zhao fails on the Q Tour, Q College may present him with one other probability to get again onto the principle 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.
Estonia’s Andres Petrov, in the meantime, received Q Tour 1 final month on the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds.
The total draw for Q Tour 2 is out there right here (WPBSA Snooker Scores web site).
Featured picture credit score: WST
