Former world champion Zhao Xintong has been handed a ban from professional snooker following a match-fixing scandal. The Chinese player, who won the UK Championship in 2021, was found to have breached betting rules and has since issued a public apology.
The ban comes as part of a wider investigation into corruption in snooker, which also saw fellow Chinese star Yan Bingtao suspended. Both players were implicated in a fixing scandal that has rocked the sport.
Zhao, 25, admitted to being approached by a third party to manipulate match outcomes and failing to report the approach. He expressed remorse for his actions, stating that he was young and naive at the time. The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) imposed a three-year ban, with two years suspended, meaning he could return to the sport after serving one year.
The scandal has raised concerns about the vulnerability of young players to corruption. The WPBSA has vowed to strengthen its integrity measures to prevent future incidents. Zhao's apology was seen as a step towards rehabilitation, but the incident has tarnished his reputation and cast a shadow over his achievements.
