SNOOKER stars are “up in arms” over a controversy surrounding Zhao Xintong’s World Snooker Championship prize money.
Xintong is set to become China’s first world champion, leading Mark Williams 17-8 going into the deciding session of the final.
Zhao Xintong is set to rise up to world No11 and pick up £500,000 if he wins the World Snooker Championship[/caption]
There is confusion as the Chinese potter entered qualifying as an amateur[/caption]
The 28-year-old’s imminent victory is steeped in controversy, though.
He was banned for 20 months due to his involvement in a snooker corruption probe – although he did not directly fix a match.
The suspension meant Xintong was stripped of his place on the professional circuit and relegated to amateur status.
He regained his place through the Q Tour and came through FOUR matches in qualifying for the Crucible.
But now it has emerged that with victory over Williams, Xintong will return to the professional circuit, soar into the top 16 in the world rankings – to 11th – and will collect £500,000 despite his amateur status.
He will also be seeded second for every tournament next season – except for the Worlds defence, where he will be the No1.
And fellow snooker pros are seemingly frustrated that some of his potential amateur earnings will count towards his professional ranking.
BBC snooker pundit Ken Doherty said: “The big question at this point is about the prize money.
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“A lot of players are a bit up in arms about it.
“The rules might have been changed, if he wins the Championship he keeps the prize money, when it should be going to scratch when he picks up his tour card.”
Mark Allen replied to a tweet of the clip from BBC television with a section of the World Snooker Tour [WST] rules regarding qualification for the 2025-26 season.
He wrote: “Makes this part of our entry packs a little more difficult to understand. I’m sure @TheCaptain147 [Ali Carter] is buzzing to hear this.”
Carter – who will drop out of the all-important top 16 as a result of Xintong’s rise – retweeted the post.
Allen then added: “My issue isn’t with Zhao at all. My issue is the fact there’s a rule in the entry pack for our events that they’re blatantly contradicting to suit themselves.
“Change the rule for next season if you like but everyone entered knowing what the rules were and the goalposts have moved.
“What’s the point in having rules/criteria if you just change it after the fact whenever suits? I’m baffled how people can’t see how poor this is.
“It’s amazing how people who think it’s ok. Also, this is something that doesn’t affect me in the slightest.”
Mark Allen got involved in the debate on social media[/caption]
But responding to Doherty’s comments live on BBC, World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) chairman Jason Ferguson confirmed Xintong would keep his ranking points earned to get back on the WST and tried to bring clarification.
He said: “It’s important to talk about and he has served his time and he has paid his fine and actually he has followed a route of trying to work his way back in.
“I think people will always refer to it but when you’re young you might get pulled into things.
“But there is a route back and there is a route to return.
“From our point of view, he has done the right thing from day one and is welcomed back into the sport and will be a professional player again at the end of this World Championship.”
And a WST spokesperson added: “The principle clearly established in snooker is that amateurs can earn prize money and ranking points in the same way that professionals do, and there are many precedents for this.
“Zhao has earned his top 64 place on merit, he will keep the rankings points he has earned and if he wins the World Championship, he will be seeded second for most events next season which again is a long-standing principle.
“Our entry pack was agreed with the Players Board before the start of this season.
“We accept that the wording in this particular paragraph could have been clearer, but the principles are unchanged and well established.”
World Snooker Championship 2025
WE are now into the final days of what has been a THRILLING World Snooker Championship!
A new world champion will be crowned this year after Kyren Wilson crashed out in the first round.
Ronnie O’Sullivan was eyeing a record eighth world title but crashed out at the hands of the brilliant Zhao Xintong – who reached the final qualifying as an amateur after his ban.
The Chinese cueist takes on veteran Mark Williams in a blockbuster Crucible final after the Welshman knocked out World No1 Judd Trump.
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