Why was Zhao Xintong banned from snooker? World champion begins title defence at Crucible

Zhao Xintong has begun his title defence at the Crucible in his match against English qualifier Liam Highfield.

The world number four has taken the opening couple of frames against Highfield as he looks to replicate his success from last year.

The world champion was banned from snooker for 20 months after admitting to being complicit in another competitor's manipulation of two matches during March 2022.

He confessed to placing bets on snooker contests over a three-year period from 2019 to 2022, breaching the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association's (WPBSA) conduct rules.

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His initial punishment of two-and-a-half years was subsequently reduced to 20 months after he cooperated early and entered a guilty plea.

The WPBSA also required him to contribute £7,500 towards the costs of their investigation.

The investigation ultimately led to sanctions against 10 professionals in total.

Liang Wenbo and Li Hang were permanently excluded from the sport for recruiting younger competitors into fixing schemes and subsequently attempting to conceal their actions.

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Former Masters winner Yan Bingtao was handed a five-year suspension.

WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson called the situation "heartbreaking," highlighting how inexperienced players had been led astray by more established figures within the game.

The governing body made clear that such harsh penalties were intended to send an unambiguous signal that corrupt behaviour would face the severest consequences in professional snooker.

Following his suspension's conclusion on September 1, 2024, Xintong spoke publicly about his regrets.

He revealed on social media that isolation while residing in Britain had driven him towards gambling as a way to occupy his time.

He also expressed that he lacked the courage to turn down a close friend's request and wished he had reported the fixing attempt to the authorities.

Xintong's path back to professional competitions began on the amateur Q Tour, where his talent quickly became apparent once more.

Strong performances enabled him to rise through the amateur standings and secure qualification opportunities for top-tier professional tournaments.

On May 5, 2025, he made history by becoming the first player from China to claim snooker's most prestigious title, overcoming Mark Williams 18-12 in the final.

That victory propelled him to 11th in the world rankings, completing an extraordinary redemption story barely eight months after his ban concluded.

The 2026 Halo World Snooker Championship got underway today at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre, running until May 4.

This year's tournament holds particular significance as it marks half a century of consecutive championships at the iconic venue.

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