Zhao Xintong’s ranking has been cleared up by the World Snooker Tour (WST) following confusion in the aftermath of his World Championship triumph. The Chinese star's success in Sheffield came under amateur status, so there was confusion as to whether he would earn his ranking points.

Last September, Zhao returned from a 20-month ban for being concerned in match-fixing and betting on snooker. He has played on the amateur tour to win back his place on the professional circuit. The 28-year-old has earned a two-year tour card for the coming season. But there was uncertainty over whether his ranking points from this season's World Championship would be added to his record.

The rankings are based on prize money and the WST entry pack seemed to suggest that he would not receive his points as an amateur player. It reads: “WST qualification for season 2025/2026: Top 64 from Prize Money Rankings after World Championship 2025. An amateur player can qualify in the Top 64 however their ranking points will always reset to zero at the start of each season.

“That amateur will count as a Top 64 player and the player ranked 64 would fall outside of the Top 64 and fail to qualify. Additional tour spaces will be announced in due course. Tour places are at the sole discretion of WST.”

However, the governing body accepts that excerpt is poorly worded and have reassured that Zhao will earn his ranking points from the recent World Championship. The former UK Championship winner banked £500,000 for his Crucible heroics and is now the world No. 11.

The WST said: “The principal clearly established in snooker is that amateurs can earn prize money and ranking points in the same way that professionals do, and there are many precedents for this.

“Zhao has earned his top 64 place on merit, he will keep the rankings points he has earned and if he wins the World Championship he will be seeded second for most events next season which again is a long standing principal.

“Our entry pack was agreed with the Players Board before the start of this season. We accept that the wording in this particular paragraph could have been clearer, but the principals are unchanged and well established.”

Zhao defeated Mark Williams 18-12 in an excellent final. He had previously thumped Crucible icon Ronnie O'Sullivan 17-7 in the semi-final.