Zhao Xintong Secures World Snooker Tour Return
Zhao Xintong is now guaranteed to finish top of the WPBSA Q Tour Europe ranking list and has secured a two-year World Snooker Tour (WST) tour card starting from the 2025/26 season.
Following early exits for Dylan Emery (3-4 to Fergal Quinn) and Ryan Thomerson (3-4 to James Cahill) in the sixth Q Tour Europe event in Mons, Belgium, Zhao now cannot be caught in top spot following an incredible campaign.
The 27-year-old from China has lost just a single match in the Q Tour Europe series this season and has picked up a trio titles in Stockholm, Manchester and Vienna. He also made history by compiling the first maximum break in Q Tour history during the event in Sweden, and incredibly followed this up with another 147 in the following event at Club 200 in Manchester.
Zhao remains in contention for a fourth successive title in Mons following victories over Edwin Depoorter (3-0), Olivier Pechenart (3-1) and Hamin Hussain (4-2) to reach the last 32 stage where he will face Asutosh Padhy on Saturday evening.
Upon confirmation of his return to the professional tour, Zhao said: “I am very happy because I have hoped for this day for a long time. I knew it would be very hard to get back on to the tour and I needed to play very well because all the players on Q Tour are really good.”
Zhao added: “I went a long time without playing a competitive match and I have really enjoyed being back. To play on the tour, I need to be winning and gain some confidence. I will do my best to win this title, I am guaranteed to be on the tour next season now but I still want to do the best I can.”
As a result of his success in the amateur game this season, Zhao was invited to take part in the qualifying rounds of the 2024 UK Championship and successfully won four matches to reach the televised stages before losing out to 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy in the last 32.
The former UK Championship and German Masters winner believes he can pick up silverware in the professional ranks once more, saying: “I just want to enjoy the matches but if I play well, I know I can be a champion again on the tour. I believe in myself so lets do it.”
The Q Tour Europe – Event Six champion will be crowned on Sunday and you can follow the event via WPBSA SnookerScores.
Spots at the Q Tour Global Play-Offs, which take place in Turkey in March and will offer three further WST two-year tour cards, remain up for grabs. Learn more about WPBSA Q Tour.
