The returning Zhao Xintong has played down his 20-month snooker ban for his part in a match-fixing probe as “a little mistake”. Xintong, 27, booked his place in the UK Championship following his return, where he will face former world champion Shaun Murphy in the first round.

The Chinese player, who won the title in 2021 by beating Luca Brecel 10-5, was one of 10 to be banned in the corruption scandal. Xintong did not directly throw a match, but he accepted charges of being party to another player who fixed two matches and betting on matches himself.

On his return to competing in a top competition, he will face Murphy, who won the World Championship in 2005, at the York Barbican on Saturday, November 23. After he booked his place in the UK Championship by demolishing Ricky Walden at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, Xintong offered his thoughts on his ban, having had much time to reflect.

However, in an interview with the BBC, he said: “Two years ago, I made a little mistake, now I’ve come back. I know how important snooker is to me and now I just want to come back to the snooker table and get trophies.

“These are very big lessons for me, it makes me appreciate snooker more.” When asked if he was pressured into taking part in the scandal, he added: “Little bit of pressure made me do the wrong thing at the wrong time.”

Xintong has won two Q Tour events since his ban expired in September and even made history by becoming the first player to hit a 147 on that circuit. After reaching the UK Championship qualifying, Xintong – who had to compete under amateur status – overcame Sunny Akanji, Jiang Jun, Noppon Saengkham and Walden to secure his place.

Looking back on his time away from the sport, he said: “This two years is very long for me, I keep practicing every day. I know I’ll come back so I need to keep confident in myself so if I play well I can win anything. I keep practicing and just need to come back. I know it’s very hard, but I think it made me stronger. Later I will be stronger.”

When asked about Xintong’s return, upcoming opponent Murphy insisted the player had served his punishment and should be allowed to focus on his snooker. He said: “Zhao Xintong obviously, very famously won this event a few years ago and perhaps more famously was part of the 10 players banned for match-fixing problems.

“I think it has to be said that Zhao Xintong was at the very lower end of those bans, he was never accused of cheating, he was never accused of fixing any matches. He did know about it and that is, of course, against the rules.

“I’d say that’s been a very difficult 18 months of so for him. He has served his time and he’s back competing. The problem with Zhao Xintong is he’s really bloody good! That’s the problem with Xintong.

“It might be fair to say he’s done nothing for 18 months but practice, he looks very, very sharp. He was caught, he took his punishment on the chin, admitted it straight away, paid all his fines and since then he’s done everything right. There’s an element of rehabilitation, so he’s back.”