Zhao Xintong’s Bid for Snooker History Sparks Controversy Among Peers
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Chinese star Zhao Xintong is on the brink of making history as he prepares to face Mark Williams in the final of the World Snooker Championship. According to a report by Talksport, Zhao holds an 11-6 lead over Williams, the oldest Crucible finalist, after the opening session on Sunday.
A win for Zhao would not only earn him his first world title but also catapult him into the top 16 in the world rankings. The 28-year-old could potentially take home as much as £500,000 in prize money. However, this has sparked controversy among some of his rivals, with BBC snooker pundit Ken Doherty stating that many players are “up in arms” about the fact that Zhao’s potential earnings as an amateur will go towards his ranking.
“The big question at this point is about the prize money,” Doherty said, as quoted by Talksport. “A lot of players are a bit up in arms about it. The rules might have been changed, if he wins the Championship he keeps the prize money, when it should be going to scratch when he picks up his tour card.” Zhao was relegated to amateur status after being slapped with a 20-month suspension for match-fixing. Although he never directly threw a match, he was charged with being a party to another player who fixed two matches, as well as betting on matches himself.
As a result of the suspension, Zhao was booted off the professional circuit. However, he managed to regain his spot via the Q Tour. Talksport reports that World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) Jason Ferguson defended the fact that Zhao would keep his ranking points, given that he earned his way back onto the tour following his suspension. “It’s important to talk about and he has served his time and he has paid his fine and actually he has followed a route of trying to work his way back in,” Ferguson said.
Ferguson added that Zhao has done the right thing from day one and is welcomed back into the sport. He will be a professional player again at the end of this World Championship, should he hold on to his lead. A win for Zhao would make him the first Chinese player to become world champion and just the third from outside the United Kingdom to do so since 1997.
The controversy surrounding Zhao’s potential earnings has sparked a heated debate in the snooker community. While some argue that he should not be allowed to keep his prize money, others believe that he has served his time and deserves a second chance. As Talksport reports, Zhao’s run at the Crucible has been impressive so far, and he will be looking to make history on Monday.
Mark Williams, Zhao’s opponent in the final, will be looking to spoil the party. The Welshman is a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience, and he will not give up without a fight. According to Talksport, the final session of the World Snooker Championship will be closely watched, with many fans eagerly anticipating the outcome. Will Zhao make history, or will Williams spoil the party? Only time will tell.
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