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World Snooker Championship: record 10 Chinese, Zhao Xintong back after match-fixing ban

Draw reveals fate for Chinese hopefuls as Zhao, bouncing back from the sport’s biggest match-fixing scandal, makes it through qualifying

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Zhao Xintong is set to return to the Crucible this month. Photo: Xinhua

Zhao Xintong will be among a record number of Chinese players at the Halo World Snooker Championship when it begins this weekend, and Thursday’s draw revealed who the country’s 10 representatives will face.

Two were handed especially tough starts, with Lei Peifan facing defending champion Kyren Wilson in Saturday’s opening session, and Zhou Yuelong drawn against world No 1 Judd Trump.

Hong Kong resident Trump will fly the flag alone for the city after Wang Yuchen fell at the final qualifying hurdle in Sheffield late on Wednesday, losing 10-4 to Hossein Vafaei.

Six mainland Chinese hopefuls made it through, however, with Zhao earning a first appearance at the Crucible since being caught up in the sport’s biggest match-fixing scandal, which saw 10 of China’s players suspended two years ago.

In September, Zhao completed a 20-month ban, having accepted charges of being a party to another player fixing two matches and betting on matches himself, and by January he had clinched a return to the professional tour next season. He will continue his rehabilitation on Sunday against last year’s losing Crucible finalist Jak Jones.

Wu Yize won a thrilling final qualifying match against Matthew Stevens. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Wu Yize won a thrilling final qualifying match against Matthew Stevens. Photo: Jonathan Wong

The previous record of six Chinese players in the televised stages has been surpassed, with top 16 seeds Ding Junhui, Zhang Anda, Xiao Guodong and Si Jiahui being joined by qualifiers Zhao, Zhou, Lei, Fan Zhengyi, Pang Junxu and Wu Yize.

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