**Zhao Xintong: Snooker’s New World Champion Still Barred from Competing in China**
Zhao Xintong etched his name in snooker history this week by becoming the first Asian player to claim the World Snooker Championship title, defeating veteran Mark Williams 18-12 in a gripping final. Yet despite this international triumph and the attention it has brought, the 28-year-old athlete continues to face restrictions at home, remaining ineligible to compete in mainland China due to a lingering ban.
The backdrop to Zhao’s remarkable achievement remains coloured by controversy. In 2023, Chinese authorities suspended Zhao alongside nine other players following one of the largest match-fixing scandals to ever beset the sport. An extensive investigation concluded that although Zhao had not personally fixed any matches, he had nonetheless been complicit by facilitating another player’s match-fixing activities, as well as placing bets on matches. Originally, Zhao was handed a 30-month suspension. His cooperation with authorities and admission of his part in the scheme later saw this penalty reduced to 20 months.
Internationally, Zhao’s ban formally concluded in September 2024. This allowed for his return to the sport outside mainland China, and he soon began to rebuild his career on the Q Tour. The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) responded by clarifying his eligibility: “Zhao will have served the suspension imposed by the Independent Disciplinary Commission by 1st September 2024, and he has paid his costs order. This means that he is eligible to play in WPBSA-governed events from 2nd September 2024.”
However, China’s domestic governing body, the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association (CBSA), insisted on upholding a 30-month ban, applicable to all competitions held within the country. This means that Zhao, despite his status as world champion, is prohibited from participating in any home-soil events until at least 1 July 2025.
Zhao’s situation raises ongoing questions about how sporting bodies choose to enforce bans across borders and the implications for athletes who are able to clear their names on the world stage, but continue to encounter sanctions domestically. Similar cases have drawn attention in other sports, but snooker is now reckoning with the complexities of such global and national disciplinary systems colliding.
The 2025 World Snooker Championship final itself was a showcase of Zhao’s skill and determination. Facing off against the legendary Mark Williams, the Chinese star quickly established his dominance, ultimately overcoming the Welshman with a convincing scoreline. Williams, never one to shy away from praise, commended Zhao’s resilience and undeniable talent. “Zhao winning it could be huge for the sport,” the Welsh three-time world champion remarked after the match. “He’s been out for two years, came back and just swept through qualifying and the tournament. His style is so effortless, the cue power extraordinary.”
Many in the snooker community have echoed Williams’s sentiments, suggesting Zhao’s victory could have a transformative effect on the popularity and perception of the sport, both in Asia and worldwide. In particular, observers are predicting that Zhao’s win may inspire more emerging players from China and across the continent to pursue snooker professionally, contributing to the game’s international growth.
Despite the ongoing ban in China, Zhao’s victory has not gone unnoticed by fans and fellow players. While he is unable to bask in his newfound fame on home soil, his achievement is being widely celebrated abroad. His journey back to the top of the sport, coming after a lengthy suspension and intense scrutiny, has garnered enormous respect.
There is a distinct sense amongst many in the snooker world that Zhao’s breakthrough moment may be a harbinger of further change. With his stylish play and determination, he is expected to provide serious competition to established stars such as Judd Trump and Kyren Wilson in the coming years. For now, however, his attention will remain fixed on opportunities available outside his homeland, as he continues to navigate the aftermath of an extraordinary comeback story.