Zhao Xintong admits ‘little mistake’ after returning from 20-month ban

China’s Zhao Xintong says he made “a little mistake” in his first interview since returning from a ban for his involvement in snooker’s biggest match-fixing scandal.

Zhao was one of 10 players banned in the corruption scandal but, after a suspension of a year and eight months, has returned and qualified for the the UK Championship.

He did not directly throw a match but was initially suspended for two and a half years, reduced after his early admissions and guilty plea.

He accepted charges of being a party to another player fixing two matches and betting on matches himself.

“Two years ago I made a little mistake, now I’ve come back,” he told BBC’s Jamie Broughton.

“I know how important snooker is to me and now I just want to come back to the snooker table.”

Zhao, 27, said it was now “very rare” that he had contact with former Masters champion Yan Bingtao, another of the players banned during the scandal, and urged other players to learn from his mistakes.

“Let them know this is a big lesson, don’t make the mistake,” he said. “Play snooker, it’s a very good thing.”

Former world number six Zhao won a WPBSA Q Tour event in Stockholm in his first tournament after returning from his ban.

Having come through qualifying, he will now play former world champion Shaun Murphy in round one of the UK Championship.

“These two years have been very long for me, I’ve practised every day,” Zhao, who won the tournament in 2021 but will compete as an amateur this year, added.

“I knew I would come back so I need to keep confident in myself.

“I believe that if I play well then I can beat anybody. I’m just going to try my best.”