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Snooker stars ‘fuming’ over Zhao Xintong controversy after World Championship win
Shaun Murphy claims his snooker rivals are ‘fuming’ that the World Snooker Tour (WST) have ‘backtracked’ on their own rules regarding amateur players. Players are divided over whether Zhao Xintong should boast 500,000 ranking points next season after winning the World Championship as an amateur.
The Chinese star was booted off the professional circuit after being hit with a 20-month ban in 2023. He has since qualified for a tour card for next season via Q-school and cemented his place with his remarkable triumph at The Crucible. However, his professional status does not become active until next season. The WST’s entry pack, which players sign, clearly states that an amateur player’s ranking points “will always reset to zero at the start of each season”.
