Zhao Xintong completed a 13-10 victory over Lei Peifan in the second round of the 2025 World Snooker Championship on Sunday in Sheffield.
In doing so, the 28 year-old from China becomes the first player with amateur status to reach the quarter-finals at the Crucible Theatre.
Zhao had matched James Cahill’s run to the round of 16 from 2019 when he outplayed Jak Jones in the opening round last week.
But the former UK champion will break new ground as an amateur player when he faces Chris Wakelin in the quarter-finals on Tuesday and Wednesday.
It continues the Chinese competitor’s rapid comeback following a ban that kept him out of the sport for the best part of two years.
Zhao got mixed up in the seismic scandal that rocked the game a few years ago and led to bans for ten Chinese players, including former Masters champion Yan Bingtao.
Liang Wenbo and Li Hang’s charges were deemed to be so serious that they were handed lifetime bans from snooker altogether.
As Zhao was ultimately cleared of fixing matches but found guilty of being a party to the betting ring, he was given a more lenient sentence.
Since returning to competitive action in September, he has completely lit up the amateur circuit.
Four triumphs on the feeder Q Tour circuit, where he compiled a brace of 147 breaks, have already guaranteed his return to professional status from next season.
Zhao also fought his way through four rounds of qualifying to reach the venue stages of the UK Championship in York, where he was narrowly beaten in the opening round by Shaun Murphy.
The former German Masters champion duly repeated the trick at the World Snooker Championship qualifying competition earlier this month.
In the preliminary phase, he contributed a dozen century breaks and established himself as a dark horse to go all the way to glory in Sheffield.
So it is proving to be the case, with Zhao continuing to underline his status as one of the favourites in the outright betting market.
Indeed, the former world number six is rated as the third most likely to etch his name onto the trophy this year behind only Judd Trump and Ronnie O’Sullivan.
Against Lei, Zhao didn’t produce the kind of prolific scoring that has become his trademark.
However, he rattled off a five-frame winning burst at the end of the first session and into the second session that ultimately proved pivotal.
Lei, who inflicted the Curse of the Crucible on reigning champion Kyren Wilson in the first round, played well and put the pressure on by winning three frames on the spin from 7-12 behind.
But the Scottish Open champion was left to rue a few big mistakes early on in the contest when he squandered opportunities to win more frames and keep it closer.
Zhao, meanwhile, will now look forward to a potential appearance at the single table set for the first time in his career.
Standing in his way of a semi-final spot will be Wakelin, who has represented one of the most improved players on the circuit in recent seasons.
“The most intriguing part of the Crucible is it doesn’t just test your overall game level but also your mental toughness,” Zhao Xintong told the World Snooker Tour.
“I think this match was also a self-challenge for me. If you want to win the World Championship, you have to go through challenges like this. I hope I can stay here longer.”
“Although it’s my first time in the quarter-finals, I hope to go even further. I believe I have the ability.
“Over the next few days, I will continue adjusting my form and sharpen my touch during practice. Because the opponents ahead are all very strong, I must maintain an even calmer mindset.
‘I know Chris Wakelin is playing very well. He’s very strong this year, but I think as long as I can play to my own level, I have a chance against anyone.
“This quarter final match will be a challenge for both of us. I hope I can play my best and fully enjoy the match, maybe the outcome will exceed my expectations.
“I hope more Chinese fans and even the general public can discover the beauty of snooker.
“If more people start playing snooker and enjoying the sport, that would make us as players very happy.
“I believe that in the future, snooker will definitely become an even more popular sport in China.”
For the full 2025 World Snooker Championship draw, results, and schedule, click here.
Featured photo credit: WST
Zhao wasn’t “ultimately cleared” of fixing matches, he was never charged with fixing matches.
Yep….subtle difference.
Let’s gone be bygones.