Snooker legend Steve Davis says star who was caught up in match-fixing scandal ‘deserves second chance’

STEVE DAVIS feels Zhao Xintong should beryllium allowed a “second chance” to play snooker astatine the highest level arsenic the Chinese cueist returns from a corruption ban.

Xintong is progressive this week successful qualifying for the UK Championship and connected Monday helium bushed compatriot Jiang Jun 6-2 successful circular two.

Next up is simply a necktie with Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham successful Leicester but if helium wins 2 further matches, helium volition scope the past 32, which is broadcast connected BBC TV, and look 1 of the starring names.

This would beryllium a arguable quality fixed what has happened to him implicit the past fewer years.

In June 2023, Xintong was 1 of 10 Chinese players charged with match-fixing offences by an autarkic World Professional Billiards and Snooker relation (WPBSA) disciplinary commission.

He was fixed a two-year and six-month suspension and ordered to wage £7,500 successful costs.

That was reduced pursuing aboriginal admissions and a blameworthy plea to 1 twelvemonth and 8 months – and it expired connected September 2, 2024.

Though helium does not person a nonrecreational Tour Card and is classed present arsenic an amateur, Xintong has been invited to vie for the £250,000 UK Championship – a rubric helium won successful benignant successful York successful 2021 by beating Luca Brecel successful the final.

Xintong, 27, did NOT hole a lucifer himself but the committee recovered “he was a enactment to different subordinate fixing 2 snooker matches” – and separately, helium broke rules by betting connected baize fixtures.

This is simply a antithetic concern to disgraced potter Stephen Lee, whose 12-year prohibition for fixing matches ended past period but for him to instrumentality to the pro ranks, helium indispensable wage £125,000 successful outstanding costs.

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Six-time satellite snooker champion Davis, 67, told SunSport: “It’s a spot similar erstwhile radical get accused of being a cause cheat.

“And each they person done is instrumentality societal drugs. They weren’t trying to cheat by utilizing performance-enhancing drugs.

“Zhao Xintong lone got 20 months. He was not progressive successful deliberate match-fixing. What happened was helium was 1 of the players who was alert of it and had a bet.

“Judging that determination are antithetic tariffs, I deliberation there’s a antithetic position to beryllium had connected that.

“I’d accidental that everybody is allowed a 2nd chance. In Zhao Xintong’s perspective, helium has had a slap connected the wrist and let’s spot however helium performs aft that.

“I don’t person a occupation with Stephen Lee coming backmost successful the game. He was wholly anserine with what helium was doing. As is anyone that breaks the rules.

“But determination are somewhat antithetic standards.

“The occupation is, it’s a unreality that is hanging implicit him. Because it’s going to beryllium called ‘match-fixing’. He has to woody with that.

“Whether helium tin prime up the pieces is down to him. Hopefully helium does. It would beryllium bittersweet if it didn’t hap for him.”

Follow the last stages of the UK Snooker Championship crossed BBC TV, vigor and online from Saturday November 23