Shaun Murphy flies off the handle as Zhao Xintong feelings made crystal clear

Shaun Murphy has blasted bosses over two key decisions surrounding new Zhao Xintong. The 28-year-old has made history by becoming the first Chinese champion after beating 18-12 at the Crucible.

However, his success has been accompanied by controversy for several reasons. The 2021 UK champion only returned to competitive snooker as an amateur last year after serving a 20-month ban for his involvement in a match-fixing scandal involving nine other Chinese players.

Contentiously, Zhao is being allowed to convert his £500,000 prize money into ranking points, propelling him straight into the top 16 at number 11. It is established that amateurs can retain their winnings and earn professional status through top-up performances.

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However, the wording in the players' contracts appears to state that those earnings cannot then translate into ranking points. The perceived discrepancy has frustrated many fellow top pros, including Masters champion who, despite holding no ill will towards Zhao, isn't happy with the situation.

"What is a new thing is WST's decision – a staggering decision, a jaw-dropping decision – to totally ignore the wording of their own contract," he said on his

"It is black and white, it's what we've all agreed to, and it isn't as things stand how World Snooker Tour are proceeding. And just to make this absolutely clear, this is nothing to do with Xintong. Nobody has got a problem with Zhao Xintong.

"This is about World Snooker Tour riding roughshod over our players' contract, which we renegotiated in good faith and signed in good faith. And they've just decided to ignore it and rewrite it as they see fit."

When approached by Mirror Sport for a response to Murphy's comments, WST said: "The principle 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 as World Champion he will be seeded second for most events next season which again is a long standing principle.

"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 principles are unchanged and well established."

The other bone of contention among fellow players is Zhao's participation at the Crucible and the 2024/25 season in general. Although his WPBSA suspension expired last September, he remains banned by the Chinese federation until July. That would usually see him barred from WPBSA-sanctioned events, says Murphy, but Zhao was allowed to play on the amateur Q Tour circuit, with his stunning results allowing him to enter the UK Championship and the World Championship.

Murphy, who says the issue was raised with the snooker authorities as long as 10 months ago, said: "It seemed fairly black and white to most of us that he wasn't in good standing with his national governing body. There are lots of other players that this has and does and will apply to. You have to be in good standing.

"The question we all asked was, how can a player who is still banned be deemed to be in good standing? I'm yet to hear a satisfactory answer from anyone at WPBSA Towers or the tour, so I don't know the answer."

In response, the WPBSA said: “The WPBSA follows best practice in sports governance and serious cases are heard using an Independent Tribunal. The WPBSA is bound by the decisions made by the Tribunal.

“Prior to competing in any recognised event or pathway to the World Snooker Tour, the authorities in China were contacted by the WPBSA to clarify Zhao Xintong's position following the end of his WPBSA ban.

“Whilst the China Sports Authorities may have the ability to implement further sanctions in their own territory, they also recognise the WPBSA's authority as a global sport. It was confirmed by authorities in China that Zhao Xintong was fit to compete at the end of his official ban. He was therefore allowed to compete in Tour qualifying events and subsequently in the World Snooker Championship having won the place through WPBSA Q Tour.”