India, April 18 -- As the 2026 Halo World Snooker Championship commences today, April 18, at the iconic Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, all eyes are on the defending champion, Zhao Xintong. While the Chinese sensation made history last year by becoming the first player from his nation to lift the world title, his journey was nearly derailed by one of the biggest scandals in the sport's history. Between 2023 and 2024, Zhao was forced into a lengthy exile from professional snooker due to a 20-month suspension handed down by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA). The ban, which involved charges related to match-fixing and illegal betting, remains a significant chapter in the career of the current world number 11.

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