Zhao Xintong will likely be an expert participant once more from subsequent season after safeguarding prime spot on the Q Tour Europe rankings record.
The Chinese language competitor can’t be caught on the summit of this season’s standings on the feeder newbie circuit.
Q Tour Occasion 6 in Mons is already in full swing this weekend in Mons, with Zhao having reached the semi-finals on the time of writing on Sunday.
The 27 year-old has gained three out of the 4 Q Tour occasions that he’s participated in since returning to aggressive motion final September following the top of his ban.
Zhao misplaced to Craig Steadman in his comeback event at Q Tour 2 however has been relentless on the satellite tv for pc sequence since then, capturing three titles on the trot.
With nearest rivals within the rankings Dylan Emery and Ryan Thomerson dropping within the spherical of 64 in Belgium this week, Zhao now can’t be usurped.
The highest-ranked participant from the Q Tour is assured a two-year major tour card, with Zhao set to regain his standing as an expert participant from the upcoming 2025/26 marketing campaign.
Three further playing cards are up for grabs via a separate play-off event on the finish of the Q Tour season.
What did Zhao Xintong say?
“I’m very completely satisfied, as a result of I’ve hoped for at the present time for a very long time,” Zhao Xintong was quoted as saying by the WPBSA.
“I knew it might be very arduous to get again on to the tour and I wanted to play very nicely, as a result of all of the gamers on Q Tour are actually good.”
“I went a very long time with out enjoying a aggressive match and I’ve actually loved being again. To play on the tour, I must be successful and achieve some confidence.
“I’ll do my greatest to win this title. I’m assured to be on the tour subsequent season now, however I nonetheless wish to do the very best I can.
“I simply wish to benefit from the matches, but when I play nicely I do know I could be a champion once more on the tour. I imagine in myself, so let’s do it.”
How did Zhao get right here?
The previous rating occasion winner has been in incredible type since getting again on the baize after the conclusion of his betting-related ban.
Along with successful a hat-trick of trophies on the Q Tour to this point, Zhao has made two 147 breaks and likewise emerged from the primary spherical of qualifying to succeed in the venue levels of the UK Championship in York.
It was on the Barbican Centre in 2021 when Zhao initially made a reputation for himself, romping to a profession breakthrough UK Championship triumph.
He adopted that up with a second rating success on the 2022 German Masters earlier than reaching a excessive of quantity six within the official world rankings.
Zhao’s profession trajectory took a dramatic flip in the other way, nevertheless, after his involvement within the Chinese language match-fixing scandal was revealed.
Zhao was cleared of fixing matches, however he was discovered responsible of being conscious of matches that have been being mounted and for betting on snooker.
He has wasted little time in making certain his quick return to the World Snooker Tour, the place he’ll have the chance subsequent season to revive his skilled profession.
Featured picture credit score: WST
