‘He broke my heart being caught up in scandal’ – ‘Chinese Ronnie O’Sullivan’ left rival in pieces with corruption ban

SNOOKER star Zhao Xintong left a fellow player “heartbroken” due to his involvement in a match-fixing scandal.

The 27-year-old cueist was tipped to compete for the biggest prizes in the sport after winning the UK Championship in 2021.

Getty

Zhao Xintong is making his return from a 20-month ban[/caption]

PA

David Gilbert said his fellow player’s ban left him ‘heartbroken’[/caption]

But in June 2023, he was banned for 20 months alongside nine other Chinese players.

Zhao, who received the shortest punishment, did not fix a match himself but was caught up in the scandal for betting on a game he knew was rigged.

He has now served his ban and is back dominating the amateur tour.

His performances earned him a wildcard to the UK Championship qualifying, cruising through to the main draw.

Ahead of his return in York, fellow snooker star Dave Gilbert was asked about his comeback.

The former top ten player said: “He was the one who broke my heart, being caught up in all that scandal.

“He is an incredible player. He’s a lovely lad, I don’t know the kid, but he was always smiling and happy.

“Beautiful player to watch, got all the shots, he was the star, he was the Chinese Ronnie.

“He wasn’t done for match-fixing was he? Betting on matches that he knew were bent. I don’t think it is great, but we have all got mixed up and made mistakes.

‘But I definitely feel like if people threw matches and have prospered from them, I don’t want to see them again, simple as that.”

Zhao faces former world champ Shaun Murphy in the opening round of the UK Championship.

Draw and schedule for the UK Championship

Saturday 23 November

• Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Barry Hawkins
• Shaun Murphy vs Zhao Xintong
• Ding Junhui vs Robert Milkins
• Xiao Guodong vs Dave Gilbert

Sunday 24 November

• Mark Allen vs Jackson Page
• Ali Carter vs Ryan Day
• Si Jiahui vs Wu Yize
• Mark Selby vs Jack Lisowski

Monday 25 November

• Chris Wakelin vs Matt Selt
• Kyren Wilson vs Stephen Maguire
• Luca Brecel vs Jak Jones
• Gary Wilson vs Michael Holt

Tuesday 26 November

• John Higgins vs He Guoqiang
• Judd Trump vs Neil Robertson
• Mark Williams vs Stuart Bingham
• Zhang Anda vs Lei Peifan