Zhao Xintong still serving snooker ban despite winning World Championship and £500K prize

 Zhao Xintong announced himself as a snooker superstar by becoming the sport's first Asian world champion, but he remains unable to compete in his home country of China

Zhao Xintong became a world champion for the first time on Monday

Despite being the newly-crowned World Snooker Championship winner, Zhao Xintong is still barred from playing in his home country of China due to his involvement in the sport's most significant match-fixing scandal.

The 28-year-old made history as the first Asian player to become world champion after defeating Mark Williams 18-12 on Monday, claiming the £500,000 winner's prize.

While establishing himself as one of snooker's rising stars, Zhao won't be able to flaunt his newfound fame back in China as he remains banned from competing. It was back in 2023 when Zhao, along with nine other Chinese players, was banned from the sport for their involvement in the scandal.

However, after an investigation found he had not personally fixed matches, he received a 30-month ban, which was reduced to 20 months after Zhao pleaded guilty.

Zhao accepted charges of being involved in another player fixing two matches while he himself had bet on matches.

Despite his global ban ending in September 2024, allowing Zhao to start competing on the Q Tour, the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association (CBSA) announced they had imposed a domestic ban of 30 months - the original punishment before it was reduced.

With the CBSA's ban lasting until July 1, 2025, the world champion is still forbidden from participating in events in his home country.

Zhao Xintong became the first Chinese player to win the World Snooker Championship(Image: PA)

When he returned last year, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) confirmed that Zhao's ongoing ban would only apply to events held in China, reports the Express.

"The Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association has now confirmed that their sanction only applies to mainland China and that Zhao Xintong is permitted to play in events outside of China from the end of his WPBSA suspension," the statement read.

"Zhao will have served the suspension imposed by the Independent Disciplinary Commission by 1st September 2024, and he has paid his costs order. This means that he is eligible to play in WPBSA-governed events from 2nd September 2024."

Mark Williams congratulated his opponent following their clash

After defeating Williams, the iconic Welsh player was quick to commend the Chinese star, acknowledging the potential impact of his victory on the snooker scene: "Zhao winning it could be huge for the sport," said the 50-year-old. "It could end up opening floodgates everywhere.

"I've got nothing but admiration for him, to do what he's done. He's been out for two years, bashed everyone up in qualifying and come here and bashed everyone up in the main tournament. It's an unbelievable achievement. There's not enough good words to say about him. Everyone has got to get behind him and just watch him.

"He could dominate or at least give [Judd] Trump and Kyren [Wilson] a go. Snooker needed someone like him to come through, like what happened with Luke Littler in darts. His style is so effortless and his cue power."