Zhao Xintong's snooker ban and Ronnie O'Sullivan verdict ahead of World Championship final

Rewind to last year, Chinese snooker star was banned from snooker. He was unable to take to the table and as a result missed out on the 2024 edition of the

Just 12 months later, he is preparing for his first final appearance in the competition and will be gunning to become China’s first-ever winner at the tournament. Before he even considers how he celebrates he wins, he’s got a big task on his hands.

He will take on at the Crucible, with the action getting underway on Sunday afternoon. Regardless of if he takes home the trophy or not, it is a remarkable reversal in fortunes for Zhao.

But what actually happened? And how has the 28-year-old managed to find his feet again in such emphatic style? Mirror Sport takes a look ahead of Sunday’s much-anticipated final:

Who is Zhao Xintong?

Zhao is a Chinese snooker player, who first started making a name for himself as a teenager. Nicknamed The Cyclone, he joined the professional tour in 2016, winning his first ranking title five years later as he claimed the 2021 UK Championship.

He has also accumulated a number of titles in other countries including Germany, Sweden, Austria and Belgium. But things soon came to a crashing halt for the promising young star.

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Why was he banned?

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) suspended Zhao alongside nine of his Chinese compatriots as part of a devastating in January 2023. He claimed that he did not directly throw a match but accepted charges of being a party to another player fixing two games.

He also admitted to betting on matches himself. Zhao was subsequently charged and following an independent disciplinary tribunal, he was banned for 20 months, a suspension that extended all the way up until 1 September 2024.

In a lengthy social media statement, he wrote: “In the last few months, I have been regretting my mistakes every day. I am sorry.

“Living alone overseas (in the UK) was boring, in a closed life, and I stupidly chose betting to spend some time (due to boredom). I did not realise that betting influenced me like a monster... I have never attempted to manipulate any snooker games, and I know that is forbidden.

Who will win the snooker World Championship?

“When close friend offered me to help me bet, I was not brave enough to say no, and did not report that to WPBSA. I naively thought that I only responded to a good friend's request, and I never received or profited from this at all. I paid big price for my stupidity and spent every day in remorse.

“Since the ban, I have received support and help from WPBSA to tackle my mental and personal weaknesses. I am eternally grateful for you all who believe that I would be able to come back as a clean man. You cherish after you lose. No words can describe my love for Snooker. Let me prove to you with better results as a new person.”

What’s happened since?

Zhao has enjoyed an impressive return to snooker having returned to action on the amateur Q Tour. He qualified for the UK Championship, losing to in the first round.

He has also had a testing run at The Crucible. He was required to progress through four qualifying rounds before racking up wins against Jak Jones, Lei Peifan and Chris Wakelin.

Zhao then came up against record-holder in the semi-finals but showed no mercy against the seven-time winner as he

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What’s been said?

The Rocket is clearly a big fan. He has backed Zhao to become one of the best snooker players in the . Speaking after his defeat, he said: "I think it would be amazing. If he did win, he would be a megastar.

"He's still very big in China as it is. But if he becomes world champion it would just be amazing for snooker and for his life as well. He can definitely get over the line."

Meanwhile, snooker chief Barry Hearn has suggested that Zhao’s ban may actually have made him a better player. He said: "He has served a ban for what some people would call a very minor offence.

"He's a quality player and I think he's a nice young man. Rules are rules and you take it on the chin. If you make a mistake in life, you don't look back, you look forward.

"He's looking forward to being world snooker champion. That's his dream. When you've paid a price for something the slate's clear, otherwise you have no life forever."

So, what’s next?

All eyes are now on the World Championships and Zhao has his sights firmly set on victory but is under no illusions at the size of the task ahead of him. Speaking ahead of the final, he said: "Winning the championship is the big dream for Chinese snooker.

"It is still very far because I have one last round against one of the top players of the world. Everyone says that no Chinese player has won it before, but I will just try to enjoy it.

"When I was eight to 10 years old it was my first time to play snooker and from that moment it has been really far [to get to this point]. If you want to become a good player you need to do this [move away from home] even though it is very hard."

Elsewhere, former Crucible winner has backed Zhao to take Chinese snooker to even higher levels should he claim the trophy. He added: "We have been talking about it for years and years.

"Ding has been close and a real ambassador for China, but Zhao being in the final means the viewing figures will be off the charts. Just imagine what it will do for the game over there.

"It has been a phenomenal achievement. He is brilliantly talented. There does not look to be any fatigue involved. He is just waltzing around the table. He is almost like a ghost, he floats around the place and looks very similar to Jimmy White in his younger days."

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