Why Zhao Xintong's controversial ranking situation is similar to Luke Littler's world champs breakthrough

Zhao's journey to becoming snooker's first Asian world champion has been a remarkable one, and a tale of redemption.

Just a few years ago, China's Zhao was one of the hottest properties in the sport having won the UK Championship - the second biggest ranking event on the circuit - and the German Masters, results that helped him rise to number six in the world.

However, not long after, Zhao was suspended, and then banned for his part in the well-documented match-fixing scandal that rocked the sport during the 2022/23 season involving ten Chinese professional players. Zhao - who was found not to have actually fixed matches himself - admitted guilt early on for his wrongdoings and accepted a 20-month ban.

That punishment ended in September, allowing Zhao to compete on the international amateur scene. On the Q Tour - snooker's secondary circuit - Zhao was sensational, winning four consecutive events and finishing top of the rankings with still one event to go. That feat won Zhao back his professional tour card from the 2025/26 season.

• Totally Snookered’s end of season rankings review

However, along with several other top performing amateur players, Zhao was invited to both the UK Championship and World Championship professional events on the World Snooker Tour during this season’s schedule.

In both tournaments, Zhao navigated all four qualifying rounds to reach the televised stages where the world's top 16 waited in the main draw. At the Barbican in York for the 2024 UK Championship, Zhao narrowly lost to Shaun Murphy 6-5 in round one proper in what his first TV appearance in around two years.

On only his third appearance at the Crucible, though, Zhao went all the way, defeating Jak Jones, Lei Peifan, Chris Wakelin, Ronnie O'Sullivan, and then Mark Williams in the final to claim snooker's ultimate prize, and a half-a-million pound jackpot.

Because Zhao earned so much prize money, he activated a rule that allowed him to gain a world ranking position despite still technically being of amateur status, as his professional tour card wasn't valid until the 2025/26 term.

There has been some confusion and controversy around this rule - the World Snooker Tour have recently admitted that their wording on correspondence about the scenario could have been clearer - but because Zhao broke into the world's top 64 he was allowed to keep the ranking points he earned from both the UK and World Championships going into next season. If Zhao hadn't made the top 64 by the end of this season, he would have started the 2025/26 season on zero ranking points.

It is important to note, though, regardless of where Zhao is, or will be ranked over the next year, he will be seeded at least number two for most of the events on the tour because of a long-standing rule on the professional circuit relating to their reigning world champion.

Comparisons to Luke Littler and Zhao Xintong's rankings situation

Despite being a decade older than him, several people have compared Zhao to teenage darting sensational Luke Littler - the current PDC World Darts Champion.

The two do share a similar story, though, when it comes to their breakthrough in their sport's number one event, and the implications around their subsequent world ranking placement.

In 2023, Littler competed on the Professional Darts Corporation's 24-event Development Series for junior players. This circuit provides youngsters a pathway to qualify for the following season's professional circuit, and invitations to the next World Darts Championship - similar to what the Q Tour in snooker does.

A 16-year-old Littler won five events during the year meaning he finished second on the Development Series rankings list, earning a professional tour card for 2024, and a spot at the Alexandra Palace in London over Christmas and New Year for the World Championship.

Like Zhao did when he turned up at the Crucible a few weeks ago, Littler arrived at the Ally Pally knowing his place on next season's professional circuit was guaranteed, although he was competing in the upcoming World Championship as an amateur, with his professional tour card not active until the following season.

Littler was a revelation during that event and he immediately became a sporting superstar as he defeated several of darts' biggest names - including former world champions Christian Kist, Raymond van Barneveld, and Rob Cross, en route to the final, where his run was ended by title winner Luke Humphries in a seven sets to four outcome.

Twelve months later on the same stage, Littler defeated Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the final to win the blue riband title, becoming the sport's youngster-ever world champion by several years.

Going back to his runner-up spot in the 2023/24 event, though, Littler earned £200,000 for his efforts. The Professional Darts Corporation and the World Snooker Tour - who are both very well-connected with their overlapping Matchroom personnel links - both use a prize money based two-year rolling ranking system.

As Littler had earned so many prize money ranking points from his maiden World Championship campaign, he pushed himself into the world's top 64 and was allowed to keep the points on his tally going into his first season a professional for the 2024/25 term. Had he not broken into the top 64, he would have started on zero points - like Zhao would have done.

Many thanks to Phill Barrs (@phillbarrs on X) from Online Darts and Matthew Edgar (@theedgar501 on X) for their help with this article.