Shaun Murphy has slammed snooker chiefs for allowing Zhao Xintong to play at the World Championship – even though he is still banned in China.
The new Crucible champion received a 20-month suspension from the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) in 2023 for his part in a major match-fixing scandal. Zhao did not directly throw a match, but was party to another player fixing and placed bets on games himself.
Following the expiration of his ban last September, the 28-year-old returned to the table in the Q Tour, then came through qualifying as an amateur to take his place at the World Championship, before going on to become the first Chinese champion.
However, Zhao is still unable to compete in his homeland because he was given a 30-month sanction by the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association (CBSA).
That is the length of suspension initially recommended by the WPBSA, the game’s global governing body, before it was reduced by a third because of Zhao’s early guilty plea.
Masters champion Murphy has now questioned why Zhao has been allowed to play in any tournament given the ban imposed by his own country does not expire until July.
Zhao Xintong became the first Asian player to win the World Snooker Championship earlier this week
Speaking on his OneFourSeven podcast, Murphy said: ‘This point was made to anyone in World Snooker and the WPBSA who would listen at the time.
‘How can a player who is still banned by their own governing body be seen and be deemed to be in good standing and therefore be allowed to enter WPBSA events such as Q Tour?
‘That was a question that was asked about 10 months ago before the start of the season that’s just ended. It seemed fairly black and white to most of us that he wasn’t in good standing with his national governing body.
‘I’m yet to hear a satisfactory answer from anyone at WPBSA Towers or the tour, so I don’t know the answer.
‘It struck me as odd. I think a lot of players have the same view. It was something that was discussed at length by the players’ board in conjunction with the WPBSA.
‘We were told that, despite him being still banned by his NGB in China, that WPBSA considered him to be in good standing. That wasthe answer. We said, ‘Hang on a minute, he’s still banned but you’re not recognising that?’.
‘The argument I’ve seen a lot is that he’s been away from the game – but he didn’t take a gap year, he didn’t go on a sabbatical to go and feed refugees somewhere.
Zhao competed as an amateur on the back of his involvement in a match fixing scandal
Zhao competed as an amateur on the back of his involvement in a match fixing scandal
‘There was an enforced suspension because he’d done something wrong. He’s done the crime, he did his time and therefore should be allowed back.
‘But that’s where it gets a bit sticky, because there is an argument being made that he didn’t do his time. That’s a big problem for a lot of people that raised it at the time – and it’s still being raised today.’
In response to Murphy’s comments, the WPBSA insisted they had cleared Zhao’s situation with the CBSA in advance of his return.
They said in a statement: ‘Prior to competing in any recognised event or pathway to the World Snooker Tour, the authorities in China were contacted by the WPBSA to clarify Zhao Xintong’s position following the end of his WPBSA ban.
‘Whilst the China authorities may have the ability to implement further sanctions in their own territory, they also recognise the WPBSA’s authority as a global sport.
‘It was confirmed by authorities in China that Zhao Xintong was fit to compete at the end of his official ban.
‘He was therefore allowed to compete in Tour qualifying events and subsequently in the World Snooker Championship having won the place through WPBSA Q Tour.’
Murphy and other top players including Mark Allen and Ali Carter are also angered about how amateur Zhao has been allowed to convert his £500,000 Crucible prize money into ranking points heading into the new season.
Ali Carter was among the top players angered about how Zhao has been allowed to convert his £500,000 Crucible prize money into ranking points
Ali Carter was among the top players angered about how Zhao has been allowed to convert his £500,000 Crucible prize money into ranking points
That is despite World Snooker Tour rules which state: ‘An amateur player can qualify in the top 64, however their ranking points will always reset to zero at the start of each season.’
World Snooker have since admitted that ‘the wording in this particular paragraph could have been clearer’, but have confirmed Zhao will still start next season as the new world No11.
Murphy fumed: ‘WST have decided to totally change the rules. The players are in uproar about it.
‘This actually has nothing to do with Zhao Xintong. He just happens to be the player that this has happened to.
‘This is about the World Snooker Tour riding roughshod over our players’ contract, which we renegotiated in good faith and signed in good faith. They’ve just decided to ignore it and rewrite it as they see fit.
‘The rules are clear. It’s a staggering decision, a jaw-dropping decision to totally ignore the wording of their own contract.’
