Zhao Xintong is nicely and really again on the snooker map after rising triumphantly from Q Tour Occasion 3 in Sweden on Sunday.
Competing in simply his second snooker occasion after coming back from a 20-month ban from the game, Zhao produced a collection of sturdy shows to prevail in Stockholm.
Zhao scored closely all through the weekend’s play, the spotlight being a powerful 147 break within the final body of his 4-1 victory over teenager Shaun Liu within the final 64.
It represented the primary most break ever recorded on the Q Tour, an beginner feeder circuit that gives an avenue for gamers to graduate onto the World Snooker Tour.
Zhao proved that his immense pedigree didn’t diminish in the course of the ban by compiling eight tons within the match general.
On Sunday, he beat veteran Peter Traces 4-1 within the final 16 earlier than orchestrating back-to-back whitewash successes over Nicolas Morteaux and Mateusz Baranowski.
Zhao confronted Craig Steadman within the ultimate, the identical participant who knocked him out of his comeback match at Q Tour Occasion 2 in Bulgaria a month in the past.
Whereas the 4-3 scoreline was the identical, the result on this event was completely different with the younger Chinese language star edging a detailed title-deciding battle in a decider.
Zhao will probably be hoping to make use of the Q Tour to regain his place on the principle tour having surrendered his elite standing on the again of final 12 months’s match-fixing scandal.
Why was Zhao Xintong banned?
Ten Chinese language gamers had been judged to have been concerned in a widespread match-fixing operation that despatched shockwaves by way of the game.
Zhao was deemed to bear data of others fixing matches and was additionally responsible of betting on snooker matches, however he was acquitted of fixing matches himself – therefore a lighter sentence in comparison with his countrymen.
Liang Wenbo and Li Grasp had been handed the heaviest sentences – lifetime snooker bans – for his or her respective roles on the entrance of the betting ring.
Former Masters champion Yan Bingtao was additionally given a multi-year ban, the 24 year-old unable to return to aggressive motion till December in 2027 on the earliest.
Zhao, nonetheless, was free to return to the game and start his comeback after his shorter ban ended in the beginning of September.
The 27 year-old first participated in Q Tour Occasion 2 in Bulgaria final month, however regardless of successful a few early-round fixtures he bowed out within the final 64 with defeat to Steadman.
It was in the identical spherical this weekend in Stockholm the place Zhao produced the 147 that reminded everybody within the sport of the great expertise that he possesses.
What did Zhao obtain earlier than the ban?
Earlier than his ban, the previous IBSF World Novice Championship runner-up had been breaking by way of as one of many new stars of the sport.
Success on the 2021 UK Championship in York was shortly adopted by a second rating title on the German Masters in Berlin.
He was ranked as excessive as quantity six on the earth, so will probably be fascinating to see if he can return to these heights once more sooner or later.
The Q Tour will supply Zhao the most effective alternatives to make it again earlier than the 2025/26 snooker season commences subsequent summer time.
The highest-ranked participant on the European Q Tour rankings will obtain an automated two-year card to compete on the skilled circuit.
Three extra spots will probably be up for grabs by way of a play-off match involving high-ranked gamers on the European Q Tour and others from the World Q Tour collection of occasions held world wide.
Following Q Tour Occasion 3, Zhao has risen to second within the rankings on the again of pocketing the £3,000 champion’s cheque.
He’s degree within the standings with Dylan Emery, who received Q Tour Occasion 2 in Sofia, and simply £300 behind Q Tour Occasion 1 champion Andres Petrov.
Q Tour Occasion 4 is scheduled to happen in Manchester from November 8-10.
Q Tour Occasion 3
Chosen Outcomes
Final 16
Craig Steadman 4-1 Alfie Davies
Peter Devlin 4-2 Umut Dikme
Alex Clenshaw 4-0 Rory McLeod
Steven Hallworth 4-2 Florian Nuessle
Zhao Xintong 4-1 Peter Traces
Nicolas Morteaux 4-3 Oliver Sykes
Barry Pinches 4-0 Sean O’Sullivan
Mateusz Baranowski 4-3 Ryan Thomerson
Quarter-Finals
Craig Steadman 4-1 Peter Devlin
Steven Hallworth 4-1 Alex Crenshaw
Zhao Xintong 4-0 Nicolas Morteaux
Mateusz Baranowski 4-3 Barry Pinches
Semi-Finals
Craig Steadman 4-2 Steven Hallworth
Zhao Xintong 4-0 Mateusz Baranowski
Closing
Zhao Xintong 4-3 Craig Steadman
Click on right here to view the complete draw
(snooker.org)
European Q Tour Rankings
(after occasion 3)
1. Andres Petrov – £3,300
2. Zhao Xintong – £3,000
3. Dylan Emery – £3,000
4. Ryan Thomerson – £2,400
5. Craig Steadman – £2,000
6. Harvey Chandler – £1,700
7. Steven Hallworth – £1,500
8. Mark Joyce – £1,500
Click on right here to view the complete Q Tour rankings
(snooker.org)
Featured picture credit score: WPBSA
