China’s Zhao Xintong returns to rack up 147 clearance on snooker’s Q Tour
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Zhao Xintong en route to the first maximum 147 break at a World Professional Billiards & Snooker Association Q Tour event.
PHOTO: ACTION IMAGES
STOCKHOLM – China’s Zhao Xintong bounced back from his recent ban following a match-fixing probe to rattle in the first maximum 147 break at a World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) Q Tour event on Oct 5, as he seeks to return to the pro ranks.
Zhao, winner of the UK Championship in 2021, was suspended in January 2023 then sidelined for more than 18 months after accepting charges of being a party to another player fixing two matches, as well as betting on matches himself.
Once tipped for greatness, he now finds himself battling to get back on the professional tour, and he resumed competing at a recent Q Tour event in Bulgaria, where he lost in the last 64 to England’s Craig Steadman.
Zhao, 27, was back to his best in Stockholm, taking a 3-1 lead and then clearing the table in front of a handful of spectators to win the best-of-seven match against Hong Kong’s Shaun Liu 4-1 in the round of 64. He has reached the semi-finals, with the result unavailable at press time.
The maximum break is also believed to be the first in competition in Sweden, head of the Swedish Billiards Federation Andy Nettleton said. REUTERS
