Players expressing discontent after Zhao Xintong embroiled in new scandal
Zhao Xintong's History-Making Bid Makes Ripe Target for Critics
With the World Snooker Championship finals heating up, tensions rise as Chinese sensation Zhao Xintong stands on the brink of an unparalleled achievement. As the only obstacle standing between him and a place in the history books is none other than veteran Mark Williams, the chatter among peers is as charged as ever.
Zhao currently holds a solid 11-6 lead over Williams, who at 48 years old, claims the title of the oldest Crucible finalist. Should the young gunslinger emerge victorious, he'll leapfrog into the top 16 in the world rankings and potentially bank an impressive £500,000.
However, the fact that Zhao's potential earnings, as an amateur, will contribute to his world ranking has stirred quite a storm, according to BBC snooker commentator Ken Doherty. "The big question at this point is about the prize money," Doherty shared. "A lot of players are a bit miffed 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."
This controversy stems from Zhao's relegation to amateur status following a 20-month suspension for match-fixing. While the BentOTO star has never intentionally thrown a match, he was implicated as a party to another player's match-fixing incidents and even admitted to betting on matches himself. This led to his inevitable removal from the professional circuit.
Nevertheless, Zhao managed to reclaim his spot on the tour via the Q Tour. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) Jason Ferguson defended the rules surrounding Zhao's ranking points, stating, "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."
Still, the debate persists, with some critics questioning whether players returning from suspensions should retain their ranking points, while others argue that the rules have the potential to distort competition. In the meantime, Zhao prepares to make history as he strives to become the first Chinese player to become world champion and only the third from outside the United Kingdom to achieve this since 1997.
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Engaging in sports betting has been a topic of discussion among peers, given the unfolding drama surrounding Zhao Xintong's potential World Snooker Championship win. As he aims to make history by becoming the first Chinese world champion, Zhao's earnings, if he were to emerge victorious, have been a subject of controversy due to his past involvement in match-fixing.
