Zhao Xintong makes historic 147 as return from match-fixing scandal continues

Today at 09:21 AM

Zhao Xintong continues his bid to return to snooker’s professional ranks and is doing so in style, making a 147 at Q Tour Event 3 in Sweden on Saturday.

The former UK Championship winner returned from his ban from the sport last month at the second Q Tour event of the season.

The 27-year-old was involved in the huge match-fixing scandal in the sport and was found to be be party to another player fixing two matches and betting on snooker matches himself.

As he never threw a match himself, his punishment was the lightest of the 10 players who received bans and he returned to the baize in Bulgaria last month.

Q Tour is the amateur circuit below the main World Snooker Tour and offers a route back into the professional game for next season.

Zhao was taking on the talented teenager from Hong Kong Shaun Liu on Saturday in the last 64 in Stockholm and made a maximum break in the final frame of his 4-1 win.

It was a piece of history for the Chinese cueist as it is the first 147 ever made on the Q Tour, illustrating the immense quality he possesses while competing in the amateur ranks. He also made breaks of 80 and 68 in the victory.

Q Tour provides a two-year tour card for the professional game for the player who finishes top of the Order of Merit after all the events over the season.

There is the Q Tour Play-offs which see a number of the top performers over the campaign battle it out for further tour cards.

While there are plenty of high quality players involved, the former UK Championship and German Masters winner is widely expected to come through and win his spot back on the World Snooker Tour.

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