‘He doesn’t have to make 147s every week’: Disgraced snooker star tipped to win World Championship after return from ban

ZHAO XINTONG has been tipped to win multiple world titles as he prepares to return to the professional ranks following a 20-month ban.

The Chinese star, 27, was found guilty of being party to another player fixing two matches and betting on snooker matches himself.

Prior to his ban, which ended in September, he won two ranking titles - the UK Championship and German Masters - and reached world No6 in 2022.

Due to his suspension, he slipped off snooker's professional circuit but recently returned to amateur competition.

Zhao has won two of the three Q Tour events he has entered - and made the first two maximum breaks ever seen at that level.

The victories have earned him a place in UK Championship qualifying which gets underway on November 16.

This will be his first step back into professional competition.

And former world No6 Alan McManus believes Zhao can return to the very top, insisting multiple world titles are not out of reach.

Speaking on his podcast, McManus said: "One of the reasons I want him to come back and reignite his career to what it should have been…

"Let’s forget who’s won the World Championship before today and think about who would be the most likely multiple winner of the World Championship from this day forward.

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"I actually think Zhao Xintong might be that guy, someone like him, maybe Si Jiahui might be another one you could possibly tip for that.

"But that’s how highly rated Xintong is."

Shaun Murphy, world champion from 2005, is another famous snooker face excited to see Zhao back on the circuit.

But he has joked the supreme talent does not need to constantly be making maximums.

He told listeners of his : "Someone needs to tell Xintong that he doesn’t have to make 147s every week!

"Just a wonderful, wonderful player. I can hear people as they’re listening to this saying he was banned and shouldn’t be back playing.

"There was never any accusation that Xintong lost any matches on purpose or that he cheated. He’s served his time and he comes back."