On April 30, 2022, , World Snooker Tour (WST) released an important news. The voting channel for the "Fans' Choice Player of the Year" for the 2021/22 season was officially opened. There are 5 players on the candidate list this year. They are Neil Robertson who has won 4 championships in a single season, Judd Trump who is the winner of the championship and double Turkey Masters champion, and Ronaldo who has returned to the world's number one world Grand Prix champion. Neal O'Sullivan, Champions League champion and European Series leader John Higgins, British Championship and German Masters champion Zhao Xintong, among whom Chinese player Zhao Xintong nominated the award for the first time.
Friends who are familiar with snooker know that as usual, after the World Championship ends every year, WST will announce the final winners of the major awards of the season. There are generally 7 awards, namely "Best Player of the Year as voted by fans" , "Media Player of the Year", "Performance of the Year", "Magical Moment of the Year", "Rookie of the Year", as well as "Player of the Year" and "Hall of Fame", including "Player of the Year" The "Hall of Fame" is the highlight and the most valuable award. For new professional players, the "Rookie of the Year" is also a kind of recognition. The other awards can basically be regarded as consolation prizes, but they can also be regarded as recognition of their own responsibilities. A spiritual reward for hard work during the season.
Zhao Xintong was nominated this time for the "Fans' Choice Player of the Year". Although it is not the highest award and he may not win it in the end, being nominated by WST is already a breakthrough and deserves congratulations. After all, Chinese players did not gain much at the WST annual awards ceremony. Ding Junhui was successfully selected into the Snooker Hall of Fame. Xu Si, Yan Bingtao and Pang Junxu also won the "Best Newcomer of the Year" award. Now Zhao Xintong's performance is worthy of this award. It is also worth noting that Wu Yize, a young player born after 2000 who turned professional for the first time this season, is expected to compete for the "Rookie of the Year" award. In his first year as a new professional, he reached the top 32 of the British Championship and won the title of "Best Rookie of the Year" in his new career. Occupy the first position in the world ranking list of professional players.
