Snooker player who returned to sport after involvement in match-fixing scandal wins tournament and hits 147

Chinese snooker star Zhao Xintong has won his first tournament since his return to the sport following a 20-month ban.

Zhao was one of 10 Chinese players to be handed bans by the World Professional Billiards and Association (WPBSA) last year for their involvement in a match-fixing scandal.

Two players - Liang Wenbo and Li Hang - received life bans, while 2021 Masters champion Yan Bingtao was suspended for five years until December 2027.

Nine of the 10 players were found guilty of charges of fixing or conspiring to fix at least one snooker match.

Zhao, meanwhile, accepted lesser charges of being a party to another player fixing two matches (being aware of a match being fixed) and betting on matches. He was not charged with fixing matches.

The 27-year-old received a ban of one year and eight months, and returned to action at the amateur Q Tour 2 event last month.

He won two matches before being knocked out at the last 64 stage.

Last week, he entered the Q Tour 3 event in Stockholm, Sweden, which concluded on Sunday.

And Zhao defeated Craig Steadman - who he lost to in Q Tour 2 - by four frames to three to win his first tournament since returning.

The Chinese star even hit a maximum 147 break in the early rounds, with eight centuries in all across the event.

Zhao Xintong in action during the 2022 Champion of Champions event - Getty

The Q Tour spans over seven events, with the highest-ranked player given an automatic tour card for next season's professional tour.

And despite missing the first event, Zhao moved up 83 places to second position in the rankings after his tournament victory.

Speaking to WPBSA after his final victory, Zhao said: "Coming to Sweden, I just wanted to get used to this feeling of playing in tournaments again.

"I wasn't aiming to be the champion, but I just wanted to get back to playing competitively again."

He continued: "I haven't changed my practice schedule. I still practice as usual and play against professionals.

"I think my scoring in the last few days is within my capability and I know I can score well."