Jimmy White has revealed he wants to play snooker until 65 – giving him at least another two years on the baize.
The Whirlwind still thinks he can qualify for top ranking tournaments, but said he is going to approach next season very differently.
“This last year my schedule was too busy,” he said, I was all over the place doing exhibitions and my preparation wasn’t the greatest.
“I have to manage it a bit differently for the next two years but if I don’t find some form, this will be my last two years.
“You’ve got to show the form on the table. My game is in good shape but I’ve not got any results this year.
“If I didn’t think I could win, I wouldn’t play. The minute I think I can’t win, I won’t play. But I don’t take any regard of what people say about me playing on.
“Is there a chance I’ll play at 70? No. I’m going to see out these two years and if I find some consistency, then I’ll make a decision.
“But if I don’t, I’m going to go and play bad golf.”
Heavy favourite
While White will be ruing his draw, Ken Doherty must be eyeing round 2.
The 1997 World Champion will face Charl Jonck at 2.15pm.
The Irishman is a 1/41 favourite against the South African, who has been a regular winner of the South African Championship, but hasn’t done much on the pro tour.
What’s it all about, Alfie
Jimmy White makes his debut in this year’s competition at midday.
The Whirlwind is one of the most famous and beloved snooker players ever and a four-time winner of this event – a record.
But while he comes into the match as one of the players expected to make a lot of noise in the competition, he has been handed a tough draw in the first round.
He is facing Alfie Burden – a player 15 years White’s junior and currently ranked 13 places above him on the professional tour.
Burden, ranked 80 to White’s 93, has been a fringe qualifier in a number of events in the last couple of years and reached the third round of the Saudi Arabia Masters earlier this year.
The match is also a replay of the 2023 Seniors final, which White won in a close 5-3 shootout.
It could definitely have been easier for the Whirlwind.
SOCCER AM legend Andy Goldstein was handed an 8-0 win in the UK Open Pool Championship after his opponent failed to show up.
Goldstein, who now works for talkSPORT, is one of a 256-player field who entered the tournament for a chance at winning the £200,000 prize fund.
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Andy Goldstein won his second match at the UK Pool Open 8-0Credit: X/MatchroomPool
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It came after the talkSPORT presenters rival did not showCredit: X/MatchroomPool
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World Cup winner James Aranas of Philippines failed to show up in TelfordCredit: Getty
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It followed a 9-1 defeat against Ramazan Akdag earlier on
The presenter, 51, was due to face James Aranas in his second game on the opening day.
Aranas won the World Cup of Pool in 2023 as part of the Philippines triumphant side.
He partnered with Johanna Chua to become the first team to win the tournament despite entering as an unseeded competitor as they beat Germany 11-7 in the final.
However, today the 33-year-old failed to show for the clash in Telford.
Consequently, Goldstein was handed a bye into the second round, recorded as an 8-0 win.
After the game was officially declared in his favour, Goldstein wandered around the room celebrating his victory.
He was able to show the crowd some of his skills by playing on the table after the result was declared.
Earlier in the day he had been thrashed 9-1 by Ramazan Akdag.
THE limbs in the Leeds United end when Manor Solomon struck late to seal the title were some of the best the EFL has produced.
But you can bet there were celebrations just as big from one genius punter after the 91st minute strike landed the final leg of their 398/1 season prediction!
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Manor Solomon’s injury-time goal on the final day sparked wild scenes as Leeds win Championship
For much of the second half of the season, Leeds were locked in a ‘two from three’ battle with Burnley and Sheffield United for promotion back to the big time.
With that wrapped up with a couple of games to go, they were in pole position to win the league.
That was until relegation-threatened Plymouth took the lead on the final day through a Sam Byram own goal on 18 minutes.
With Burnley scoring on 13 minutes, the in-play table had Scott Parker’s Clarets winning the title.
Willy Gnonto grabbed one back for Leeds eight minutes after the break before the wild scenes that followed, when Manor Solomon struck in the first minute of added on time to wrap up champions status for Daniel Farke and co.
They were an 11/4 chance to win the second tier and that made up one-quarter of an outstanding season bet for one William Hill punter.
The winning bet
Placed at William Hill
Leeds – to win Championship – 11/4
Birmingham – to win League One – 13/8
Doncaster – to win League Two – 8/1
Barnet – to win National League – 7/2
Before the drama of the final day, they had been celebrating Birmingham’s canter to the League One crown, at a short price of 13/8.
The big spending Blues smashed all kinds of records in the third tier this season and ended the campaign with a stunning, record-breaking 111 points.
Doncaster went into the final day in League Two with a one-point lead over Port Vale at the top, and all the momentum after an incredible run in the closing weeks.
Grant McCann’s side finished like a train with Vale, Bradford and, in particular, Walsall all stumbling in the final few weeks, with Rovers obliging with a final day win and making it 3/3 for this punter at a very nice 8/1.
Another two-horse race to finish in the National League in the end, with York City winning seven of their last eight games to pile the pressure on Barnet, who looked the league winners from some way out.
Barnet stuttered at the start of April when claiming two points from a possible nine, only to string three wins together to finish the campaign.
That saw them crowned National League champions by six points and were 7/2 to do so back before a ball was kicked.
All four would land at a magnificent 398/1 price and the punter’s £30 stake saw them return £11,960.
Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: “Having already correctly predicted this season’s League One, League Two and the National League champions, one of our punters must have been watching through their fingers as the final minutes ticked away with Leeds needing a goal to be crowned Championship winners and their four-fold bet moments away from hitting the bin.
“What a feeling it must have been when that 91st minute goal went in and with it the realisation that they had just turned £30 into a cool £11,960 after brilliantly predicting four league winners this season.”
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
Never chase their losses
Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
Watch the best shots from the 2025 World Snooker Championship at the Crucible, including “perfect” shots from Ronnie O’Sullivan and tournament runner-up Mark Williams.
Two riders have died after an 11-bike crash during a British Supersport Championship race at Oulton Park on Monday.
Englishman Owen Jenner, 21, and Shane Richardson, 29, of New Zealand, were fatally injured in a “major chain reaction” incident on the first lap of the race as the riders exited turn one.
The race, the third of the weekend, was halted on the first lap, with series director Stuart Higgs later calling the incident “severe and catastrophic” as he announced the event had been cancelled.
In a statement on Monday night, Motorsport Vision Racing (MSVR), who are responsible for circuit operations at Oulton Park, said another rider, Tom Tunstall, had sustained “significant injuries”.
“Owen Jenner, 21, was initially treated trackside and then taken to the circuit medical centre, where despite further resuscitation treatment he died from a catastrophic head injury,” MSVR said.
“Shane Richardson, 29, was initially treated trackside and then taken to the circuit medical centre before being transferred to Royal Stoke University Hospital with severe chest injuries. He died prior to arrival.
“Tom Tunstall, 47, was initially treated on the track and was taken to the circuit medical centre, he was later transferred to Royal Stoke University Hospital with significant back and abdominal injuries.”
Riders Carl Harris, Max Morgan, Cameron Hall, Freddie Barnes and Morgan McLaren-Wood were treated for minor injuries at the circuit medical centre.
Lewis Jones, Corey Tinker and George Edwards were also involved in the accident but did not suffer injury.
MSVR and the Motorcycle Racing Control Board said they are “investigating the full circumstances of the incident in conjunction with the Coroner and Cheshire Constabulary”.
Luke Hollman’s maiden century paved the way for Middlesex to snatch a dramatic victory as they edged past Kent in a see-saw County Championship classic at Lord’s.
Bowled out for 129 on the opening day, Kent looked favourites after setting a stiff target of 365 and reducing their hosts to 81-3 overnight – but Hollman’s diligent knock of 103 anchored a remarkable fightback.
The 24-year-old shared key partnerships with Stephen Eskinazi (41) – who retired hurt with a back spasm but returned later – and Jack Davies (59), only for leg-spinner Matt Parkinson to turn the contest back in Kent’s favour, dismissing Hollman and Davies in quick succession.
It needed an unbroken ninth-wicket stand of 52 between Toby Roland-Jones and Zafar Gohar to wrap up a record Middlesex run chase against Kent, the latter slog-sweeping Parkinson (3-105) for six to secure victory with just one over remaining.
A morning shower slightly delayed the resumption of Middlesex’s innings before not-out batters Hollman and Eskinazi knuckled down to blunt the visitors’ attack with few causes for alarm.
Hollman overtook his partner by steering Kashif Ali to the point boundary and, even though Parkinson extracted some turn from the Pavilion End, the pair made steady progress during the first hour and a half.
However, they were separated when Eskinazi – having turned Parkinson behind square – clutched at his lower back while completing a routine single and grimaced with pain as he sank to the turf at the bowler’s end.
The opener eventually limped back to the dressing room, with replacement Ryan Higgins doing well to dig out an inswinging yorker from Jamal Richards shortly before another bout of drizzle curtailed the session.
Hollman advanced beyond 50 for the sixth time in his red-ball career after lunch, sweeping and on-driving Parkinson for boundaries and then nudging a single to reach his individual landmark as Middlesex’s target dipped below 200.
But it was the former England leg-spinner who achieved a breakthrough, reacting quickly to deflect Hollman’s straight drive on to the wicket with non-striker Higgins scrambling in vain to make his ground.
The run-out raised Kent spirits, with more close fielders ushered in as Parkinson was joined by Jack Leaning in a spin-only offensive, capturing another wicket as Tawanda Muyeye raced out from slip to snare a looping edge off bat and pad of Ben Geddes.
Kashif returned to share the new ball with George Garrett, who was hoisted over the rope at long leg by Davies but almost accounted for Hollman on the stroke of tea, a clipped half-volley fractionally eluding the diving midwicket fielder.
Hollman kept his cool to complete his ton from 184 balls and that was the signal for Davies to press the accelerator, slamming Garrett for a six and three fours during a single over that cost 29 in all.
A reverse sweep for four off Parkinson took Davies to his half-century and simultaneously lifted Middlesex’s total above 300 – yet the pendulum appeared to swing again as Parkinson picked up two wickets in three balls.
Hollman was first to go, snapped up at short leg before Davies holed out to deep midwicket and, having returned with a runner, Eskinazi could increase his score by just two before Joey Evison pinned him lbw with 51 still required.
Gohar and Roland-Jones (23 not out) gradually whittled those down, while Evison (3-71) and Parkinson maintained the pressure in tandem as the overs ticked away and shadows began to lengthen.
With five needed and seven balls remaining, Gohar (30 not out) took on Parkinson and dispatched the ball over the short boundary to seal Middlesex’s second win of the season.
Just last month, Loyola High School in Los Angeles celebrated senior Braun Levi for moving into the top national ranks of boys tennis.
The 18-year-old bagged another victory just days ago, winning the Mission League doubles championship. In a photo, the beaming Levi stands beside teammate Cooper Schwartz, holding up four fingers — one for each of his four straight league doubles championships.
Those achievements had to be a bit of a balm for the Levi family, coming just a few months after their home in Pacific Palisades burned in the January firestorm. The family had relocated to the South Bay.
It felt beyond comprehension, then, when Loyola Principal Jamal Adams emailed students and staff of the Catholic Jesuit school Sunday to inform them that Levi had been killed in a traffic accident just hours earlier, a month before his high school graduation.
“Braun was a shining presence in our Loyola family,” Adams wrote, “bringing light, joy, and inspiration to everyone he touched.”
The principal invited the Loyola school family to a prayer vigil on campus Sunday evening. “All members of our community are welcome to join us as we gather in unity and remembrance,” Adams wrote.
Manhattan Beach police said they had arrested a 33-year-old Los Angeles woman on suspicion of drunk driving and homicide in connection with the crash, which they said occurred after midnight Sunday morning.
A brief news release from the department said only that a call came in at 12:46 a.m. about a traffic accident involving a pedestrian in the 100 block of South Sepulveda Boulevard. They found the victim, whom they did not identify, lying in the street.
The police statement said that Jenia Belt of Los Angeles had been arrested in the crash. Belt remained in the Manhattan Beach jail Sunday, a police watch commander said.
Friends showered Levi’s social media accounts with tributes to him. Levi was to attend the University of Virginia in the fall.
“Anyone who got to know you knows how lucky they are,” said one message. “You never met a stranger, and left an impact on everyone you met. I’m going to live and love as big as you every day.”
Said another: “Whether you were lucky enough to cross paths with him for an hour or a lifetime, he left an impression. It was impossible to be sad or bored whenever Braun was around, and his gift for lifting those around him was truly singular.”
The images from Levi’s social media hint at a prototypical Southern California upbringing. He’s wading in a High Sierra lake with his family, arm-in-arm with buddies on the beach, posing for a selfie with actor Adam Sandler and rocking a pink suit and a fedora beside a horse racing track.
Just two years ago, another Loyola High student-athlete died in the final weeks of his high school career. Ryan Times, a pitcher on the baseball team, was struck and killed by a train in April of 2023, when the school was on spring break.
Brian Held, coach of the Loyola varsity tennis team, called Levi, a three-year captain, “probably the most decorated player to ever play for the school.”
Held also taught Levi in AP Economics and Statistics. “We are all stunned, devastated and heartbroken with this tragedy,” Held said via email. “Braun was the most amazing, all-around leader, whom everyone loved, even his opponents. He was just that type of kid — unique and special. As one of his teachers, I witnessed how he brought joy to everyone.”
Levi is survived by his parents and an older sister.
Times staff writer Eric Sondheimer contributed to this report.
On the Dignity Health Sports Park concourse, a group of men sat with drinks in hand, laughing and soaking in the final day of the Rugby Sevens World Championship. Their trip from Cornwall, in southwest England, to Carson spanned 5,408 miles, all for the sole purpose of cheering on Britain.
Donning custom button-up shirts with matching shorts, they proudly pointed out the emblems pressed onto their kits — symbols of home. Their outfits featured a Union Jack, a classic Cornish mining engine house and scones topped with jam first, then cream — the only proper way, they insisted, while chastising anyone who did it differently, much like their intolerable cousins from the neighboring county of Devon.
The getaway to L.A. wasn’t so much a planned excursion as it was a series of phone calls between seven childhood friends, all contingent on getting approval from their wives. Unfortunately, the group was greeted with back-to-back dreary, overcast afternoons instead of the trademark California sunshine. Still, the weather didn’t dampen the fun.
“That’s what we like about sevens — it goes all day,” said Jason Penprase, referring to the raucous atmosphere and rapid pace. “It’s good that we actually get to see nations that you wouldn’t necessarily associate with rugby. … You get to see other nations come forward and play. … It’s got to be good [for the games]. You’re trying to make it a worldwide sport.”
At its core, rugby sevens combines the vibe of a European music festival and Halloween, with the high-impact, frenzied energy of an NFL Sunday. As matches ran concurrently, fans from places as far away as New Zealand flocked to the 27,000-seat stadium in Carson. The result was a vibrant melting pot of cultures, with the two-day tournament providing a preview of what to expect when rugby takes the spotlight at the 2028 Summer Olympics.
This year’s tournament, which featured New Zealand winning the women’s title and South Africa the men’s crown, marked the first time the championship was held on American soil. The event served not only as an Olympic preview for fans, but also as an experience for the players.
Samantha Sullivan of the United States shakes hands with fans after a loss to Canada in the third-place playoff at the rugby sevens world championships at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday.
(Jack Megaw / AEG Rugby)
For U.S. women’s national player Nia Toliver, who grew up just miles from Carson in South Central L.A., the opportunity to compete for a bronze medal near her hometown allowed her mother, siblings and friends to witness her journey up close.
“I played rugby in Japan for a couple of years, and they weren’t able to come in and see me play out there, so to have them finally come to a game, and the world championship at that, just means so much,” Toliver said.
Toliver and her teammates are at the forefront of rugby sevens’ growing national exposure in the U.S., building on the momentum from the national team’s captivating bronze-medal run at the Olympic Games in Paris. Having witnessed the sport’s growth since beginning in high school over a decade ago, Toliver was excited by the weekend turnout and the potential for even larger crowds in 2028.
“I’m imagining you’ll be like this for, like, 100 fold,” Toliver said with a smile. “Because when people showed up in Paris, it was ridiculous. So I’m imagining L.A. just spilling out. … It’s so easy to fall in love with, it’s like there’s no reason for you not to watch.”
Fighting for a bronze against Canada, the U.S. fell short in a 27-7 loss, leaving Toliver deflated. She remains determined, however, to compete for a medal in the Olympics. She was named rookie of the year after the season-ending tournament, and she could be in line to lead the national team in three years.
“Once in a lifetime, it’ll be full circle for me,” Toliver said of the prospect of playing in the Olympics.
Much like the Olympic Games, simply being present meant everything for some countries, and nowhere was that more apparent than with Kenya and its fans. Hundreds of supporters, equipped with African drums and miniature flags adorned in black, red and green, claimed a section of the lower bowl, becoming the tournament’s most boisterous group. Their chants of “Let’s go Kenya!” and “Kenya, aye!” in Kiswahili filled the stadium with vibrant energy.
“It’s not about winning or losing, it’s just about that happiness,” said Ng’ang’a Njenga, who traveled from Seattle. “We come straight from third-world countries, and when we come and gather like this, have fun, enjoy.”
Armed with a drum by his side, Njenga was dressed in a leopard-print Kenyan garb, with a mohawk painted half white and half black, in honor of Lwanda Magere, a Kenyan folk hero whose powers lay in the shadows.
Aaron Cummings of the U.S., top, competes for a line-out against George Ooro Angeyoof of Kenya during the Rugby Sevens World Championships on May 4, 2025.
(Jack Megaw / AEG Rugby)
Njenga was among the many who led the drum section, spilling out from the stands, joined by men’s national players Denis Abukuse and Vincent Onyala. Together, they led the charge, dancing in circles to the rhythm of the drums.
“We love this,” Njenga added. “That emotion, like life, can be good. Let’s be happy. It’s not about winning or losing in life.”
Players mingling along the walkway, enjoying the festivities, were a common sight. Fans asked Kenya women’s captain Grace Adhiambo Okulu for selfies and autographs as she cheered on the men’s national team.
“We really work hard to come into L.A. and the experience you’re getting from everyone. It’s a blessing,” Okulu said. “Rugby would be fine if the Kenyans were not here. It’s an amazing thing that the Kenyans are here, and definitely they’re not only supporting Kenya, but any team that is playing.”
The event was not without criticism from fans like Penprase, who stayed in Long Beach with his mates. He pointed out the difficulty of getting around L.A., with constant Uber rides required due to the city’s limited public transit options.
Additionally, some U.S. fans took issue with the setup, which featured two pitches — one inside the stadium and another on its outskirts. Fans noted that they missed a men’s matchup on the second pitch because of the setup. Multiple pitches are expected to be used during the Olympics, in contrast to the single-stadium setup at Stade de France last year.
Despite a few kinks that might need ironing out, just over 27,000 fans visited over the weekend, according to officials. With growing excitement among attendees, many are already looking ahead to the 2028 Games.
After attending the Paris Games, the Cornishmen are potentially eyeing a return flight to LAX in three years, pending the approval of their better halves, of course.
“Never say never — you never know,” Penprase said, hopeful that the next trip would bring more sunshine.
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri won his fourth race of 2025, beating teammate Lando Norris in an action-packed Miami Grand Prix.
Oscar Piastri made it a hat-trick of wins with victory in the Miami Grand Prix as McLaren enjoyed a one-two on the podium to continue their dominant Formula One season.
The Australian driver finished 4.6 seconds ahead of British teammate Lando Norris, with George Russell of Mercedes finishing third but 37.6 seconds behind.
The victory on Sunday was the third in a row for Piastri after his wins in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and his fourth in the six races so far this season.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen, who started on pole, finished in fourth place with Alex Albon of Williams fifth and 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes in sixth.
“I was aware enough to avoid Max in turn one, and from then I knew I had a good pace advantage,” Piastri said. “The car was incredible today.
“The hard stint I was struggling a little bit, so there are some things to work on. Got to keep learning, but very happy to be leaving Miami on top.
“Two years ago here, we were the slowest team, I think we got lapped twice. Here, we just won the race by 35 seconds,” he added.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, left, and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in action during the race [Brian Snyder/Reuters]
Piastri, who started at fourth on the grid, grabbed the lead on lap 14 when Verstappen took the inside line but was too late on the brakes and went wide.
“Brakes man, honestly, useless,” the Dutchman told his team radio and the Red Bull driver, a two-time winner at Miami, was not to get a sniff of the lead again.
Norris went on the hunt for Verstappen but by the time he got ahead, after some jousting on lap 17, Piastri had opened up a 9-second lead.
“It’s never the best feeling [to be second] but the team has done an amazing job, so I can’t fault them at all,” said Norris.
“We were up the road so it is a good feeling. Oscar drove well, Max put up a good fight as always so it is what it is. I paid the price for not doing a good enough job today, but still happy to be second,” he said.
Russell had finished behind his teammate Antonelli in qualifying but after some frustration in the sprint race as well, he was glad to be on the podium.
“Really happy to come away with P3 as I have been struggling this weekend personally. Well done to the McLaren, they were just too far down the road,” he said.
It was another disappointing day for Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc finishing seventh and Lewis Hamilton a place behind.
Hamilton, in his first season with the Italian team, expressed frustration with his team’s tactics several times during the race, especially after he was instructed to let Leclerc pass him.
Williams driver Carlos Sainz faced a steward investigation after his aggressive attempt to overtake Hamilton on the final corner resulted in a clash of wheels.
McLaren’s Australian driver, Oscar Piastri, crosses the finish line to finish first in the 2025 Miami Formula One Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Florida, US, on May 4, 2025 [Shawn Thew/AFP]
Zhao Xintong holds an 11-6 overnight lead after three-time winner Mark Williams steadied the ship on day one of the World Championship final at the Crucible Theatre.
The 28-year-old dominated the opening session to open up a 7-1 advantage but Williams, who is the oldest Crucible finalist, took five of the nine frames on offer in Sunday’s second session, including a tense 17th frame.
It gives the Welshman, 50, a glimmer of hope when play resumes on Monday, although no player has previously overturned a deficit of more than four frames going into the second day of a World final.
While Zhao be confident of becoming the first Chinese player to be crowned world champion and only the third player from outside the UK to win the title since 1997, Williams will rue what might have been despite his mini recovery.
Having looked out-of-sorts early in the day, Williams also crucially lost the sixth and 16th frames when his opponent cleared the table after he had crafted half-century breaks, only to then miss the frame-deciding ball.
While Zhao was unable to maintain the dominance he exhibited in the early part of the match, he was still able to add four more half-centuries to the breaks of 77, 100, 57, 104 and 83 that he compiled in the opening session.
Zhao, who won the UK Championship in 2021 but then served a 20-month ban for his involvement in a match-fixing scandal which rocked the sport, is hoping to join Terry Griffiths and Shaun Murphy as the only qualifiers to land snooker’s biggest prize since the tournament’s 1977 move to South Yorkshire.
He would also become the first amateur to win in Sheffield, while the £500,000 top prize would lift him to 11th in the world rankings when he returns to the main professional tour next season.
The best-of-35 final continues on Monday at 13:00 BST and will be shown live on BBC Two.
Zhao Xintong aims to be the third consecutive first-time winner when he takes to action on SundayCredit: Getty
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If Zhao Xintong wins the Crucible championship, he will be the only amateur to do it in the Crucible’s history, and the youngest champion since Murphy in 2005.Credit: Getty
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Prior to his suspension, he was quickly becoming a fan favourite, including Ronnie O’Sullivan, owing to his flashy style of play
Zhao produced a brilliant game of snooker, demonstrating his crisp cueing and good positional play to pounce on O’Sullivan’s blunders.
“Watch him – amazing – he’s the one, could be the Roger Federer of snooker,” O’Sullivan, who has been a long-time admirer of Xintong’s talent, said in a 2019 interview.
He is expected to be the one of the sport’s new superstars with a triumph at the Crucible.
The 28-year-old plays as an amateur in Sheffield and had not competed in a professional competition since 2022 until the season began. But, with a Triple Crown victory under his belt, this isn’t your typical amateur snooker player.
The WPBSA found him guilty of match manipulation and betting between 2019 and 2022, but exonerated him of actively fixing his own matches.
The prominent issue wrapped snooker, when ten Chinese players were accused with various levels of match-fixing, and Liang Wenbo and Li Hang were eventually banned from the sport for life.
The WPBSA disciplinary committee that conducted the hearing described former world No. 11 Liang’s attitude as “particularly disgraceful”.
The two highest-profile figures involved in the scandal were 2021 Masters winner Yan Bingtao, who is presently serving a five-year ban until December 2027.
And Zhao, who was ranked ninth in the world when his suspension began, having added the 2022 German Masters title to his stunning UK Championship victory.
Zhao, who did not personally toss a match, acknowledged allegations of assisting another player in rigging two matches and betting on matches himself, for which he received a 20-month sentence – reduced from the initial 30.
He returned to competition on the amateur Q Tour in September, winning tournaments in Manchester, Sweden, Austria, and Belgium, as well as qualifying for the UK Championship, where he lost to Shaun Murphy in the opening round.
“Two years ago I made a little mistake and now I come back, so I know how important snooker is for me,” said Zhao after beating Walden to secure his spot at the UK Championship last year.
“I want to come back to the snooker table and get trophies. These are very big lessons for me, it makes me appreciate snooker more.”
