Zhao Xintong

Zhao entered several events in an attempt to qualify for the 2015/2016 season. He was narrowly defeated in the first round of the ACBS Asian Snooker Championship. Xintong won three games in the first event of Q School before losing 4–3 to Alexander Ursenbacher in the penultimate round. In the second event Zhao got extremely close to qualifying for the main tour managing to reach the final round before losing before losing 4–3 to Duane Jones in a black ball finish in the deciding frame.[5][6]

Zhao's high Q School Order of Merit ranking gave him entry as a top up player to many events in the 2015–16 season. He whitewashed Stuart Carrington 6–0 to qualify for the International Championship and, despite losing 6–2 to John Higgins in the first round, his effort of 142 won the high break prize for the event.[7] Zhao made his first appearance at the UK Championship, German Masters and Welsh Open, but was knocked out in the opening round of each.[8] He lost in the final of the 2015 IBSF World Snooker Championship 8–6 to Pankaj Advani.[9] It meant that Zhao won a two-year card for the main tour after Advani declined the invitation.[10]

2016 Paul Hunter Classic

After whitewashing Wang Yuchen 4–0 at the English Open, Zhao met Ronnie O'Sullivan in the second round. Breaks of 130, 107 and 80 saw him lead 3–2, but he missed chances to take the win and was defeated 4–3. O'Sullivan said afterwards that Zhao's attacking style of play had reminded him of Stephen Hendry when he was a similar age.[11] He qualified for the German Masters by beating Li Hang 5–3 and John Higgins 5–1 and a 5–0 thrashing of Akani Songsermsawad saw Zhao reach the last 16 of a ranking event for the first time. He held a narrow 4–3 advantage over Ali Carter, but lost the last two frames.[12] Zhao was also edged out in the third round Gibraltar Open 4–3 by Mark Williams.[13]

He dropped off the tour at the end of the 2017/18 season but entered Q School in a bid to win back his place.[14][15] He subsequently won back his place by beating Dechawat Poomjaeng in the second Event final of Q School.[16]

After a difficult 2017/18 season, this season proved to be a bounce back season. Zhao reached his first semi final in China Championship early in the season, beating the likes of Matthew Stevens, Anthony McGill, Fergal O'Brien, Mark Williams, and Barry Hawkins before losing to Mark Selby.[17] Zhao also reached the quarter final of the Welsh Open, only losing to the eventual finalist Stuart Bingham.[18] Perhaps the biggest achievement of the season for Zhao would be reaching the final stage of the World Snooker Championship for the first time, but lost to Mark Selby in the first round.[19]

Zhao maintained his form from the previous season and reached another quarter final in the German Masters. He had also reached the last 16 in at least four other tournaments. This consistent performance led to his world ranking rose to the 29th by the end of the season. Ronnie O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, and Alan McManus have all once suggested that Zhao would become a leading player in world snooker due to his enormous potential. [20]