Maximum man Zhao Xintong storms to back-to-back Q Tour titles

Two-time ranking event champion Zhao continues to make a big statement since he was allowed to return to competitive action at the start of September following his ban from the sport due to his participation in the Chinese betting scandal that came out during the 2022/23 season.

The 27-year-old returned as an amateur, though, and has been competing on the Q Tour system in order to regain his professional status and a full-time card for next season’s World Snooker Tour.

Following a last 64 defeat on his return at Event Two in Bulgaria, Zhao constructed a maximum 147 break en route to the Event Three title in Stockholm, Sweden in October.

Featuring over 150 amateur players representing 29 different countries, Event Four of this season’s UK/Europe Q Tour took place at the new Club 200 venue in Manchester.

As a non-seed, Zhao again needed to take the long route, coming through the early rounds, surviving deciding frames against Williams Lemons and Ant Parson before a 3-0 win over Arsenii Korolev to reach the last 64 where the seed players began their campaigns.

Zhao registered breaks of 97, 134, 89 and 65 in a 4-2 win over Lewis Ullah before highlighting efforts of 102, 83, 60 and 76 in a 4-1 success over Mark Joyce in the last 32.

Returning on Sunday for ‘Finals Day’, the former top 16 star bested Hamim Hussain 4-1 in the last 16 and then wrapped up a 4-1 win over Oliver Sykes in the quarter-finals with a maximum 147 break - the second time he had struck perfection this season, and in consecutive events on the Q Tour Series.

For the third Q Tour event running, Zhao faced Craig Steadman, this time in the semi-finals. Zhao enjoyed a sizzling start to proceedings, crafting breaks of 102, 126 and 108 in successive frames in going 3-0 up, before later completing a 4-1 victory with the aid of a 53 break in frame five.

Without any sizeable breaks, Zhao went 2-1 up in the title match against 22-year-old Englishman Davies, although a 65 in frame four did help him to reach the hill first at 3-1 up.

Former English under-21 champion Davies stuck in there as he made a 66 in frame five on his way to reducing the gap to one, but Zhao (56 break) completed the task in the next frame to pocket another £3,000 top prize.

Success in Manchester puts Zhao in pole position to win promotion back to the professional circuit in a few months time.

Despite missing the opening Q Tour event of the season due to still being banned, Zhao’s event three and four glories put him top of the rankings with 6,000 points - over 2,000 points clear of second-placed Dylan Emery with three regular events of the 2024/25 season left to go.

The number one ranked player at the end of the term will win a World Snooker Tour card for two seasons (2025/26 and 2026/27), whilst those just behind in the standings earn a place at the global Q Tour playoffs where another three tour cards are on offer.

Earlier this week, it was announced that Zhao - due to his title triumph in Sweden - had been awarded with a spot at the 2024 UK Championship qualifiers which take place in Leicester between November 16-21.

The Chinese star would need to win four matches to reach the televised stages in York for what would be a sensational return to the scene of his greatest career moment, so far.

Although Zhao will be competing in the UK Championship as an amateur, he can keep any ranking points he earns from the event, therefore he could win a tour card via the various routes on the main tour, and even qualify for events such as the Players Series if he enjoyed a very deep run at the Barbican Centre in York.