Zhao Xintong in new snooker scandal after 20-month ban as players 'up in arms'

Zhao Xintong is set to become the first amateur player ever to win the World Snooker Championship when he faces Mark Williams in the final on Bank Holiday Monday

Zhao Xintong is at the centre of a new controversy in the snooker world regarding his prize money, ranking points, and issues with fellow player Ali Carter. The Chinese talent could make history as the first amateur to win the World Championship if he defeats Mark Williams on Bank Holiday Monday.

Previously suspended for 20 months due to match-fixing allegations, the 2021 UK Championship victor did not directly fix a match but admitted to being involved with another player's match-fixing activities and placing bets on matches himself.

After being removed from the professional circuit, Zhao reclaimed his place through the Q Tour and has since become a familiar face at the Crucible. A loss in the World Championship final would see him rise to world No. 26, while a victory would catapult him into the top 16.

However, there's discontent among other players who are reportedly "aggrieved" and "up in arms" over the fact that Zhao's potential £500,000 World Championship winnings will contribute to his ranking even though he earned them as an amateur, reports the Express.

During the final, BBC presenter Hazel Irvine questioned World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association chairman Jason Ferguson about the issue, describing Zhao's ascent as: "A big story but also a massive scandal in the sport."

Ferguson responded by saying that the governing body of the sport warmly welcomes Zhao back "with open arms" and insists he deserves to retain those ranking points after securing his tour card again via the Q Tour rather than in Sheffield.

"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.

"I think people will always refer to it but when you're young you might get pulled into things. But there is a route back and there is a route to return. From our point of view, he has done the right thing from day one and is welcomed back into the sport and will be a professional player again at the end of this World Championship."

Zhao's Q Tour spot is back up for grabs but Irvine pointed out that if he beats Williams, he reaches the top 16 and will bump Carter out of select events only for those elite players.

She argued: "But he does dive into the top 16, which he would if he wins the title, somebody like Ali Carter in 16th place is obviously a little bit aggrieved that this might bump him out of some of the big events. You can see it from his perspective."

Ferguson replied: "Absolutely you can and there is another player who has worked very hard and had a great career, been out and is back in the top 16. Amazing really to think this scenario could even happen, I think we are all looking at it and thinking: 'Wow, what is happening here?'".

"But it does show how wide snooker is these days, you have the ability to go from zero to hero pretty quickly. We have created a system and broken down all the boundaries, where other sports have layers to their system."

BBC pundit Ken Doherty has voiced concerns that some players are "up in arms" over the issue and cautioned Ferguson about the implications, stating that there's disagreement among professionals regarding Zhao's Crucible earnings being counted towards his ranking.

"The big question at this point is about the prize money," said the 1997 world champion. "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."

However, Ferguson countered: "It is not actually a rule change, it is a scenario that has never happened before. Amateur players do enter events from time to time, as they come in, they play against professionals but they never break into the top 64 because they only come in for one or two events.

"It is the first time we have actually seen this where someone has actually broken all the way through and earned enough points in a season. In that scenario, the case is that the player retains his ranking points because the player is deemed a professional player and joins the professional tour by retaining the top 64 position.

"So the places from the Q Tour is now a vacant place and the potential to top up there is available."