Yan Bingtao the latest snooker player to be suspended in match-fixing probe
Total of seven Chinese players now unable to compete in tour events pending the outcome of investigation by governing body
Snooker’s governing body, the WPBSA, has suspended China’s Yan Bingtao as part of an ongoing investigation into match-fixing for betting purposes.
The 22-year-old was due to compete in the first round of the English Open in Brentwood today, Monday 12 December, but he was removed from the tournament and his opponent, Ashley Hugill, given a walk-over.
Yan, who is the world number 16 and the 2021 Masters champion, is the latest snooker professional to be suspended after five fellow-Chinese players were handed suspensions by the WPBSA last week.
They are Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning, Lu Ning, Chang Bingyu and Lu Ning. Compatriot Liang Wenbo was given a suspension in October.
The players will remain suspended from all World Snooker Tour events until the conclusion of the investigation.
A statement issued by the WPBSA regarding Yan read: “WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson has taken the decision to suspend Yan Bingtao from attending or competing on the World Snooker Tour with immediate effect.
“This decision is part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of manipulating the outcome of matches for betting purposes in breach of the WPBSA conduct regulations.
“The suspension will remain in place until the conclusion of the investigation or any subsequent charges that may or may not be brought. Yan Bingtao has the right to appeal this decision.
“No further comment will be made except in the event of any significant further developments,” the statement concluded.
Snooker legend and pundit Jimmy White described it as a “really bad day for snooker” when discussing the matter with ex-player and commentator Neil Foulds on Eurosport at the English Open.
"It is a really bad day for snooker…" @fouldsy147 and @jimmywhite147 discuss the ongoing match-fixing investigation after Yan Bingtao became the latest player to be suspended#EnglishOpen | @WeAreWST pic.twitter.com/4YJTYjJ6OQ
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) December 12, 2022
Last week, the governing body said the suspension of the five aforementioned players followed “the suspension of Liang Wenbo on 27 October 2022 and a subsequent investigation which remains ongoing into allegations of manipulating the outcome of matches for betting purposes in breach of the WPBSA conduct regulations”.
The latest quarterly report by the International Betting Integrity Association revealed that while there were 76 suspicious betting alerts across all sports in Q3 2022, just one alert related to snooker.
This compared with 33 for tennis, 16 for esports and 13 connected with football.
Europe accounted for more than half (37) of the red flags raised, followed by Asia with eight and South America and Africa with seven alerts each.