Zhao Xintong admits ‘little mistake’ after returning from 20-month ban
Chinese player Zhao Xintong said he made “a small mistake” in his first interview after returning from a ban for his involvement in snooker’s biggest match-fixing scandal.
Mr. Zhao is one of them 10 players banned in corruption scandal But after a one-year and eight-month layoff, he has returned and qualified for the British Championships.
He did not throw the match directly but was initially banned for two-and-a-half years, a sentence reduced after he pleaded guilty early and pleaded guilty.
He accepted charges of fixing two matches with another player and betting on the matches himself.
“I made a little mistake two years ago and now I’m back,” he told the BBC’s Jamie Broughton.
“I know how much snooker means to me and now I just want to get back on the table.”
Zhao, 27, said it was now “very rare” for him to have contact with former Masters champion Yan Bingtao, another player banned during the scandal, and urged other players to learn from his mistakes.
“Let them know this is an important lesson, don’t make the mistake,” he said. “Playing snooker is a very good thing.”
Former world No. 6 Zhao won the WPBSA Q Tour title in Stockholm, his first tournament since returning from suspension.
After qualifying, he will now face former world champion Sean Murphy in the first round of the British Championship.
“These two years have been a long time for me and I have been practicing every day,” Zhao, who won the tournament in 2021 but will compete as an amateur this year, added.
“I know I’m going to come back, so I need to keep confidence in myself.
“I believe that if I play well, I can beat anyone. I’ll try my best.”
