No one is playing better than Zhao Xintong right now, says Jak Jones, who would not be surprised to see the returning star win this year’s World Snooker Championship.
The 28-year-old is back at the Crucible for the first time since 2022 after being hit with a ban for his involvement in snooker’s biggest match-fixing scandal.
The Chinese talent has looked better than ever on his return, storming through four qualification games to reach the Crucible, where he took on Jones in the opening round.
Last year’s runner-up didn’t even play too badly but was brushed aside 10-4, with Zhao knocking in a high break of 142 along the way.
Among a string of top players at the Crucible this year, Jones does not think anyone is playing better snooker than Zhao, who is a real threat to lift the World Championship trophy on May 5.
‘I don’t see anyone who is playing better than him,’ said Jones. ‘If he wins it, I wouldn’t be surprised at all and that would be good for the game.
‘His long potting and scoring are good and he also has a good tactical game. There are players who have won a lot more, but I don’t see anyone in the tournament who is actually better than him.’
Jones added to the BBC: ‘I thought Xintong played really well, looked really sharp. Obviously had two years off but the qualifiers have done him good.
I’ve had like two best of sevens in the last 10 weeks of so, I felt it out there, I didn’t feel that sharp at all.
‘He put me under a lot of pressure, scoring was good, long potting was good, I think he’ll be hard to stop.’
The Welshman felt a little aggrieved to be facing a qualifier who had been ranked number nine in the world before his ban, but must now move on to next season.
‘He’s a top 16 player in the qualifiers,’ said Jones. ‘I suppose it’s different because when you get in the top 16 you expect to draw a qualifier, but I’m playing a top 16 player. But it is what it is, I’ll go again.’
Zhao was very pleased with his performance, in only his second ever victory at the Crucible after beating Jamie Clarke there in 2022.
‘Today and yesterday I really played well, just like practice, I made very big breaks. I’m very happy,’ he said.
‘I’m very enjoy [the Crucible] because three years not back to the Crucible and I know how difficult to get back so I’m very happy for that and want to enjoy the Crucible.’
Waiting for Zhao in the last 16 is countryman Lei Peifan, who stunned defending champion Kyren Wilson on the opening day of the tournament on Saturday.
‘He’s a really nice young boy and played really well,’ said Zhao of Lei. ‘I saw his match the day before yesterday, beat the defending champion Kyren and really played well. I think it’s a very good match.
Zhao added: ‘I’ve had some good matches here in the past, but I still haven’t achieved what I really want.
‘Lei has played brilliantly and has shown he’s capable of winning titles. A lot of Chinese players are at that level now.’
The all-Chinese clash will be played over three sessions on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.