China’s Zhao Xintong plays a shot. FILE PHOTO
Wed 18 January 2023:
Ten Chinese snooker players, including some of the game’s biggest stars, have been accused of match-fixing, which has caused a serious corruption crisis in the sport.
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), the sport’s governing body, said in a statement on Wednesday that its integrity unit had uncovered a number of violations by the players.
According to the report, the 16th-ranked Yan Bingtao is suspected of fixing matches and betting on snooker, while the ninth-ranked Zhao Xintong has been charged “with being concerned in fixing matches on the World Snooker Tour” and with betting on matches.
Liang Wenbo, a former finalist in the United Kingdom Championship, has been charged with “being concerned in fixing matches and approaching players to fix matches on the World Snooker Tour, seeking to obstruct the investigation and failing to cooperate with the WPBSA investigation”.
Li Hang, Lu Ning, Zhang Jiankang, Chen Zifan, Chang Bingyu, Zhao Jianbo, and Bai Langning were the other players charged.
“The players are currently suspended from attending and competing on the World Snooker Tour and in other WPBSA governed events until the conclusion of the hearing or hearings and the determination of this matter,” the statement said.
“This matter will be referred to a formal hearing before an Independent Disciplinary Tribunal that will take place at a venue and on a date to be confirmed,” it added.
Snooker became popular in China over the past decade, mainly due to the success of Ding Junhui, who has won the Masters and the UK Championship and was a runner-up in the World Championship.
What charges do the players face?
The WPBSA statement said the players face the following charges…
– Liang Wenbo has been charged with being concerned in fixing matches and approaching players to fix matches on the World Snooker Tour, seeking to obstruct the investigation and failing to cooperate with the WPBSA investigation
– Li Hang has been charged with being concerned in fixing matches and approaching players to fix matches on the World Snooker Tour, seeking to obstruct the investigation and betting on snooker matches
– Lu Ning has been charged with fixing a match and being concerned in fixing matches and approaching a player to fix a match on the World Snooker Tour, seeking to obstruct the investigation and betting on snooker matches
– Yan Bingtao has been charged with fixing matches on the World Snooker Tour and betting on snooker
– Zhao Xintong has been charged with being concerned in fixing matches on the World Snooker Tour and betting on snooker
– Zhang Jiankang has been charged with fixing a match on the World Snooker Tour, failing to report approaches for him to fix matches and betting on snooker matches.
– Chen Zifan has been charged with fixing matches on the World Snooker Tour
– Chang Bingyu and Zhao Jianbo have each been charged with fixing a match on the World Snooker Tour
– Bai Langning has been charged with being concerned in fixing a match on the World Snooker Tour
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:
TWITTER (CLICK HERE)
https://twitter.com/IpIndependent
FACEBOOK (CLICK HERE)
https://web.facebook.com/ipindependent
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
