Snooker legend Steve Davis says star who was caught up in match-fixing scandal ‘deserves second chance’

STEVE DAVIS feels Zhao Xintong should be allowed a “second chance” to play snooker at the highest level as the Chinese cueist returns from a corruption ban.

Xintong is involved this week in qualifying for the UK Championship and on Monday he beat compatriot Jiang Jun 6-2 in round two.

Next up is a tie with Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham in Leicester but if he wins two further matches, he will reach the last 32, which is broadcast on BBC TV, and face one of the leading names.

This would be a controversial appearance given what has happened to him over the past few years.

In June 2023, Xintong was one of ten Chinese players charged with match-fixing offences by an independent World Professional Billiards and Snooker association (WPBSA) disciplinary commission.

He was given a two-year and six-month suspension and ordered to pay £7,500 in costs.

That was reduced following early admissions and a guilty plea to one year and eight months – and it expired on September 2, 2024.

Though he does not have a professional Tour Card and is classed now as an amateur, Xintong has been invited to compete for the £250,000 UK Championship – a title he won in style in York in 2021 by beating Luca Brecel in the final.

Xintong, 27, did NOT fix a match himself but the commission found “he was a party to another player fixing two snooker matches” – and separately, he broke rules by betting on baize fixtures.

This is a different situation to disgraced potter Stephen Lee, whose 12-year ban for fixing matches ended last month but for him to return to the pro ranks, he must pay £125,000 in outstanding costs.

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Six-time world snooker champion Davis, 67, told SunSport: “It’s a bit like when people get accused of being a drug cheat.

“And all they have done is take social drugs. They weren’t trying to cheat by using performance-enhancing drugs.

“Zhao Xintong only got 20 months. He was not involved in deliberate match-fixing. What happened was he was one of the players who was aware of it and had a bet.

“Judging that there are different tariffs, I think there’s a different perspective to be had on that.

“I’d say that everybody is allowed a second chance. In Zhao Xintong’s perspective, he has had a slap on the wrist and let’s see how he performs after that.

“I don’t have a problem with Stephen Lee coming back in the game. He was totally stupid with what he was doing. As is anyone that breaks the rules.

“But there are slightly different standards.

“The problem is, it’s a cloud that is hanging over him. Because it’s going to be called ‘match-fixing’. He has to deal with that.

“Whether he can pick up the pieces is down to him. Hopefully he does. It would be sad if it didn’t happen for him.”

Follow the final stages of the UK Snooker Championship across BBC TV, radio and online from Saturday November 23