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Snooker star at centre of match-fixing storm will compete in UK Championship qualifying after ban expired

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Snooker star at centre of match-fixing storm will compete in UK Championship qualifying after ban expired

A CHINESE snooker player who was involved in last year’s match-fixing storm will compete in UK Championship qualifying this month.

Zhao Xintong has the chance to scoop the £250,000 top prize after being announced as one of 16 elite amateurs to take part in the early rounds of the second-biggest event on the professional snooker calendar.

Zhao Xintong will compete in UK Championship qualifying after his fix storm

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Zhao Xintong will compete in UK Championship qualifying after his fix stormCredit: Getty

Qualifying rounds take place in Leicester between November 16-21 and then the top 16 progress to the York Barbican where they could face the likes of reigning world champion Kyren Wilson, world No.1 Judd Trump and the sport’s greatest player, Ronnie O’Sullivan.

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Should Xintong – winner of the UK Championship crown in 2021 – progress through four rounds of qualifiers at the Mattioli Arena, he will appear in the latter stages on BBC TV later this month.

Yet even though he has earned his spot by merit – he was triumphant in event three on the WPBSA Q Tour Europe – his involvement in such a prestigious tournament is a controversial one.

In June 2023, Xintong was one of ten Chinese players charged with match-fixing offences by an independent World Professional Billiards and Snooker association (WPBSA) disciplinary commission.

He was given a two-year and six-month suspension and ordered to pay £7,500 in costs.

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This ban was reduced following early admissions and his plea of guilty to one year and eight months – and that ban expired on September 2, 2024.

None of the other nine disgraced stars have served the full length of their suspensions.

According to the disciplinary commission, the former top-10 player accepted in March 2022 that “he was a party to another player fixing two snooker matches”.

And between September 1, 2019 and December 31, 2022, “he bet on snooker matches in breach of the rules”.

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Xintong, 27, is no longer on the World Snooker Tour but has the chance to regain a Tour Card in Qualifying School in the summer of 2025.

Ronnie O’Sullivan strikes up surprise friendship with Jackie Chan on FaceTime before playing snooker with icon, 70

Lifetime bans were slapped on ringleaders Liang Wenbo and Li Hang.

Xintong’s involvement in the investigation last year shocked many within the sport, especially given that he is someone well-respected for his talents.

O’Sullivan, the seven-time world champion, once tipped the cueist nicknamed the Cyclone for his rapid style of play to go on and become the “best player in the world”.

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Speaking after Xintong crushed Luca Brecel 10-5 to lift the UK title three years ago, the Rocket said: “If he can stand up and show pressure, there is no player on the circuit that has the complete game like him.

“He is like Steve Davis but with Jimmy White’s talent. Very, very scary.”

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Phil Taylor, 64, reveals plans for future with new job after retiring from darts

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Phil Taylor, 64, reveals plans for future with new job after retiring from darts

DARTS legend Phil Tylor revealed he would like to do match commentary after retirement.

Taylor, 64, is pencilled down as a commentator ahead of the World Seniors Darts Masters, which kick off on Friday and end on Saturday in Sunderland.

Phil Taylor revealed he would like to do commentary after retirement

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Phil Taylor revealed he would like to do commentary after retirementCredit: Getty
Taylor will be providing commentary during the World Seniors Darts Masters

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Taylor will be providing commentary during the World Seniors Darts MastersCredit: Rex

And the Power is very much looking forward to his new gig at the esteemed tournament.

So much so that the experienced thrower would be open to commentating on a regular basis after stepping away from the oche.

However, the Stone-on-Trent native would like to avoid being away from home “week in week out” like he used to be as a player.

Taylor said: “Some of the older players are coming to retirement age now and I think you’ll see an influx of a few more household names which will help the Seniors.

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“I’m looking forward to it [commentating], depending on what games they give me!

“If they want younger people [in the future] that’s fine. I’m not too worried about it.

“But I wouldn’t want to be away from home week in week out like I used to be.

“With my experience I can sometimes tell what pressure they’re under and what they’re thinking at that particular time.

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“Sometimes you can just tell they’re not going to hit the double.”

Taylor was originally supposed to play in the Seniors but had to pull out because of an injury.

Darts legend Phil Taylor Loses to 13-year-old schoolboy Leighton Bennett

And now the experienced thrower is focused on calling the action during this weekend’s competition.

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Taylor added: “It’s great that darts is coming back to the North East. I love the North East. I’ve got some good friends up there and have family that live in Newcastle.

“The fans always turn out in their droves in the North East and they enjoy themselves and make it a good atmosphere.

“I just hope the players perform well enough for the people who are paying to watch!”

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Football

Nations League: Brighton’s Ruairi McConville gets Northern Ireland squad call-up

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Nations League: Brighton's Ruairi McConville gets Northern Ireland squad call-up


Goalkeepers: Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Birmingham City), Pierce Charles (Sheffield Wednesday), Luke Southwood (Bolton Wanderers).

Defenders: Jamal Lewis (Sao Paulo, on loan from Newcastle United), Daniel Ballard (Sunderland), Ciaron Brown (Oxford United), Conor Bradley (Liverpool), Trai Hume (Sunderland), Brodie Spencer (Huddersfield Town), Kofi Balmer (Motherwell), Ruairi McConville (Brighton and Hove Albion).

Midfielders: George Saville (Millwall), Jordan Thompson (Stoke City), Alistair McCann (Preston North End), Shea Charles (Sheffield Wednesday, on loan from Southampton), Isaac Price (Standard Liege), Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers), Ross McCausland (Rangers), Ethan Galbraith (Leyton Orient), Brad Lyons (Kilmarnock), Caolan Boyd-Munce (St Mirren).

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Forwards: Josh Magennis (Exeter City), Dion Charles (Bolton Wanderers), Callum Marshall (Huddersfield Town, on loan from West Ham United), Jamie Reid (Stevenage), Lee Bonis (ADO Den Haag).



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NFL: Kansas City Chiefs 30-24 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Patrick Mahomes stars

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NFL: Kansas City Chiefs 30-24 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Patrick Mahomes stars

Kansas City Chiefs continue their unbeaten start to the season in a 30-24 win in overtime against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers which saw quarterback Patrick Mahomes shake off a late injury scare.

READ MORE: Mahomes shrugs off injury as Chiefs win again, external

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Motorsports

Why would we need to be enemies off the track?

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Francesco Bagnaia and Jorge Martin feel there is no reason why they should be “enemies outside the track” as they fight for the 2024 MotoGP title.

For a second season in a row, Bagnaia and Martin have been in a class of their own in MotoGP, with their championship battle set to culminate in next week’s Barcelona finale.

Their rivalry has taken place against the backdrop of Pramac rider Martin being snubbed for a promotion to the factory Ducati team next year, with six-time champion Marc Marquez instead being chosen for the coveted seat alongside Bagnaia.

While the changes instigated by Ducati made Martin lose faith in the Borgo Panigale marque and forge a new career path with Aprilia from 2025, he hasn’t allowed that decision to have any impact on his relationship with Bagnaia.

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The Italian, too, has returned the favour, with both repeatedly emphasising the respect they have for each other as rivals.

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Speaking again about the matter after engaging in an epic early battle for victory in the Malaysian GP, Bagnaia reiterated his intention to maintain a cordial relationship with his championship rival.

“For me it is very easy [to maintain harmony with Martin] because I’m not the type of guy that wants to be rude outside of the track and then need to be rude inside of the track or to be aggressive – pushing out and being the one that doesn’t respect rivals,” he said.

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“I have never been like this and I will never be like this. If in case Jorge will start to do it, I will change, but Jorge is more or less the same as me. 

“Surely, respect is the main thing and will always be like this from my point of view. So I don’t understand why we need to be enemies outside of the track, not speak to each other and be rude. I prefer [it] like this.”

 Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Photo by: Dorna

Both Martin and Bagnaia raced for Aspar Mahindra in Moto3 back in 2015 and have been a part of the grand prix paddock ever since.

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That helped establish a solid foundation to their relationship, with the intensity of a title fight not enough to put a dent in the respect they have for each other on and off the track.

“We [have] known each other since 2015. We were really close friends in the past,” Martin said. “Now we no longer have that relationship but we are good to each other. 

“As he said, it’s no sense to [be enemies]. We can fight, you saw on Sunday, it’s an amazing battle for history. 

“Maybe not the last laps, but it was amazing [overall] and then we can speak about it. I think we both enjoyed it. 

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“And as he said, if it’s like this in the future, for me it will be perfect, and I hope it will be like this always.”

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Mario Balotelli booked just five minutes into shock Serie A return after ending Turkish stint with straight red

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Mario Balotelli booked just five minutes into shock Serie A return after ending Turkish stint with straight red

MARIO BALOTELLI took just five minutes to pick up a yellow card in his return to Serie A.

The striker joined Genoa as a free agent last week after going a few months without a club.

Mario Balotelli took just five minutes to pick up his first yellow card

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Mario Balotelli took just five minutes to pick up his first yellow cardCredit: Getty

Balotelli was brought on as an 86th minute substitute with his side 1-0 up thanks to a goal from Andrea Pinamonti.

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With the game winding down to a close Balotelli managed to get himself booked.

He was cautioned for a foul in the 90th minute, which means he has picked up a yellow and a red in his last six minutes of football.

The Italian was sent off in his last appearance for Demirspor at the end of last season.

Balotelli, 34, penned a deal until the end of the season with Genoa – the 12th club of his career.

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Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano claims he only wanted to join Genoa following extensive talks with manager Alberto Gilardino.

The former Italy international appeared thrilled as he met with a group of supporters.

Balotelli is back in Serie A after three years away, having had two spells at Adana Demirspor either side of a brief stint at Sion.

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But the former Manchester City star has vowed to “smash” the league, saying: “Just because I wasn’t in Serie A (in recent years), what I did doesn’t count? F*** off, you and Serie A.

“It’s a promise, I’ll smash Serie A when I sign (for a new club), I’ll smash this f***ing Serie A.”

Mario Balotelli shows off skills in brilliant game

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FA Cup first round: Vote for your favourite goal

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FA Cup first round: Vote for your favourite goal

The FA Cup first round proper is complete, with non-league sides Tamworth and Kettering claiming two of the biggest upsets as they knocked out Huddersfield and Northampton respectively.

There were some great goals scored over the round too – we have compiled a shortlist of 10 of the best and want you to vote for your favourite.

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