Zhao Xintong suffers shock exit at season's first ranking event ahead of Championship League last-32 stage
By Desmond Kane
Published 10/07/2026 at 09:36 GMT+1
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Top seed Zhao Xintong will take no further part in the season's first ranking event after the 2025 world champion was edged out of a spot in the last 32 of the Championship League by David Grace, who won Group 1 on frame difference ahead of Zhao.
'Pot of the tournament' - Zhao sinks superb long red against Selby
Video credit: TNT Sports
Meanwhile, former World Open semi-finalist Zak Surety clinched first place in Group 32 on seven points to seal his progress in Leicester.
Zhao enjoyed wins over Simon Blackwell (3-0) and Gao Yang (3-1), but a 2-2 draw with Grace in the group decider saw the British player progress by a single frame courtesy of two 3-0 wins against the same opponents.
Despite the disappointment of an early exit, Zhao will be content enough with his level of scoring form, having rolled in a brilliant 140 break against Blackwell and 105 against Gao.
He opened with a 139 against Grace, but the world No. 74 claimed the final frame of the contest to earn a 2-2 draw and a spot in Group A before the second phase gets underway at the city's Mattioli Arena on Friday at 11:00.
Grace is up against Surety, who topped Group 32 with victories over Gong Chenzhi (3-1) and Matthew Selt (3-1) and a 2-2 draw with Andrew Higginson.
Lio Hongyu and Lei Peifan join Grace and Surety in Group A.
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Damage to Grace's cue forces uncommon 15-minute stoppage
Video credit: TNT Sports
Meanwhile, Zhao will continue his quest to topple Judd Trump as world No. 1 in China next month.
He is 479,000 points behind Trump, but the Bristolian will lose 500,000 points from his total after the Wuhan Open (August 23-29) meaning Zhao could reach the summit for the first time.
A strong performance at the China Open - which is live on TNT Sports and HBO Max on August 8-16 - and Wuhan would boost his prospects, with Neil Robertson, world champion Wu Yize and John Higgins also in the frame for top spot.
Elsewhere, Luca Brecel - the 2023 world champion - returns to action in Group B of the Championship League against Hossein Vafaei, Ian Burns and Pang Junxu on Friday.
Defending champion Stephen Maguire will join Gary Wilson, Stan Moody and Dylan Emery in Group C on Saturday.
The 32 group winners will contest eight groups of four between July 10-14, before two final groups of four and the title match taking place on July 15.
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