Chinese snooker players charged with match-fixing offences
Following an investigation by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, 10 Chinese players have been charged with match-fixing and betting offences
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) has charged 10 Chinese snooker players for allegedly breaching its regulations concerning betting and match-fixing.
Following an investigation by the WPBSA Integrity Unit, in collaboration with Sportradar, the governing body has decided that the players do have a case to answer to regarding the potential breaches.
The 10 players, who have all been suspended from all World Snooker Tour events, include former Masters champion Yan Bingtao, Liang Wenbo, Li Hang, Lu Ning, Bai Langning, Zhao Jianbo, Chang Bingyu, Chen Zifan, Zhang Jiankang and Zhao Xintong.
In one of the largest clampdowns in match-fixing in snooker history, all 10 have been charged with fixing matches on the tour, and several of the players have also been reprimanded with additional alleged breaches.
Liang, Li, and Lu have all been accused of approaching other players to fix matches and seeking to obstruct the investigation.
Liang was also charged with failing to cooperate with the investigation.
Additionally, Li, Lu, Yan, Zhao and Zhang have been charged with allegedly betting on snooker matches.
Zhang was also charged for failing to report the approaches made to him to fix a match.
Zhao Xintong is the most high-profile player of the 10, ranked number nine in the world, to be swept up in this investigation. He is currently the reigning German Masters champion after whitewashing his countryman Yan 9-0.
Zhao was also replaced at this year’s Masters tournament at Alexandra Palace by Iran’s Hossein Vafaei.
Liang Wenbo was the first player suspended by the governing body back in October 2022, with Lu Ning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning, Chang Bingyu and Chen Zifan following suit in December.
The matter has now been passed on for a formal hearing before an Independent Disciplinary Tribunal, with the date and location to be determined.