“FANS are frustrated with snooker commentator Alan McManus for his “nonsense” punditry at the UK Championship. McManus criticised Zhao Xintong’s performance and demeanour in his last-16 defeat to compatriot Zhang Anda. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! Zhao Xintong suffered a shock 6-2 defeat to compatriot Zhang Anda in the UK Championship last-16”, — write: www.thesun.co.uk
McManus criticised Zhao Xintong’s performance and demeanour in his last-16 defeat to compatriot Zhang Anda.
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Zhao Xintong suffered a shock 6-2 defeat to compatriot Zhang Anda in the UK Championship last-16Credit: Getty 
Alan McManus was a former World No. 6Credit: Getty Zhao, the World No. 10 from China, was a shadow of his usual self in the shock 6-2 loss to Zhang.
McManus, a former World No. 6, said on TNT Sports‘ live broadcast: “Judd Trump plays with intensity that you sometimes need out there.
“He (Zhao) doesn’t. He can bounce around the table … and oh, we’re out for a stroll. You’ve got to be a wee bit more hard than that.
“I do believe that a large, a big reason why he is a world champion was because he had all the Q-school prep. Without that, he wouldn’t be world champion as he stands today.
“He’s gonna have to find a way to be more intense at the table, because he missed too many shots today that were bombed.”
But fans have been quick to defend Zhao, slamming McManus for his harsh comments.
One fan replied: “Out of order comments. Specially from a ex player.”
Another wrote: “Ffs absolute nonsense from McManus.”
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A third fan said: “Never has a good word to say about anyone/anything these days, used to like him as a pundit but turn him off now.”
McManus was a mainstay among the world’s best players in the 1990s.
He won the 1994 Masters, ending Stephen Hendry’s five-year, 23-match unbeaten streak at the tournament.
In May, Zhao became the first Asian player to win the World Snooker Championship.
It was a remarkable comeback after he was stripped of his professional status in 2023 as the result of a match-fixing investigation.
After a 20-month ban, he worked his way back to the top through Q Tour events on the amateur circuit.
En route to clinching November’s Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, Zhao defeated World No. 1 Judd Trump, Shaun Murphy and Neil Robertson.