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World Snooker Tour suspends 10 players amid match-fixing investigation

All 10 players suspended are from china.

Multiple players have been suspended from the World Snooker Tour during as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged match-fixing. Zhao Xintong, the 2021 UK Championship winner, and Zhang Jiankang, were the latest names added to the suspension list.

"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," read a statement released by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) on Jan. 3. 

"The suspension will remain in place until the conclusion of the investigation or any subsequent charges that may or may not be brought. Both Zhao and Zhang have the right to appeal this decision."

World No. 56 Liang Wenbo was the first player to be sidelined in October. The list has expanded since then and, as of this week, there are 10 Chinese players suspended. The WPBSA said the wider investigation is now at an advanced stage and it is anticipated that it will be completed shortly. Potential charges will be considered at the conclusion of the investigation.

On Tuesday, the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association said in a statement, as reported by CNN , that it "firmly opposes game manipulation, gambling and other acts that violate sports integrity and ethics, and will make further punishments based on the final investigation results released by the WPBSA."

There are not many public details regarding the investigation. The source of the original allegations is unclear and the specific details on the suspended players are also not currently available. The WPBSA said there would be no further comment at this time, except in the event of any significant further developments.

Snooker is a ball-and-cue sport organized into frames and played on a table between two opponents. There are 15 red balls, six colored balls and one cue ball. The balls and table are bigger than those used in pool.

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Former Masters champion Yan Bingtao suspended from World Snooker Tour

• World No 16 suspended after match-fixing investigation
• Five other Chinese players suspended last week

The former Masters champion Yan Bingtao has been suspended from the World Snooker Tour after an investigation into match-fixing, the sport’s governing body, the WPBSA, has announced.

The Chinese world No 16, has been banned from attending or competing at events with immediate effect as the WPBSA continues to examine allegations that matches were manipulated for betting purposes.

Five other Chinese players – Lu Ning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning and Chang Bingyu – were suspended last week pending the result of the investigation while Liang Wenbo was banned in October.

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The WPBSA said: “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.”

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Bingtao, who won the Masters last year, had been due to play in the English Open this week but his first-round opponent, Ashley Hugill, was awarded a walkover.

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World Snooker charges 10 players with match-fixing including Yan Bingtao, Zhao Xintong and Liang Wenbo

Former Masters champion Yan Bingtao is among six Chinese players charged with match-fixing by snooker’s governing body, whose chairman Jason Ferguson described the situation as “heartbreaking”.

All 10 players currently suspended from the World Snooker Tour have been deemed to have cases to answer by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) following the sport’s biggest ever corruption investigation.

The other players charged with fixing a match or matches are Lu Ning, Zhang Jiankang, Chen Zifan, Chang Bingyu and Zhao Jianbo.

An independent disciplinary tribunal will now be convened to consider the evidence, with a verdict likely delivered before the World Championship in April.

“It is a heartbreaking situation for those of us who have been in this sport for a long time and have worked to make it the great sport it is,” WPBSA chairman Ferguson told ITV4.

“That is why we are doing this. We have to have a pure sport which people watch, buy tickets for, we sell our rights around the world; it has to be pure, live competitive sport.

“We are taking this very seriously, we’ve come out with everything we possibly can. We’ve been transparent all the way in this process and we will again be transparent at the end of this to give the public and the audience watching the confidence that this sport is still great.”

Who are the players and what are the 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.

Asked if some players could have played their last competitive match, Ferguson added: “Our rules are very clear on this, it does say that for manipulation of the betting rules, up to a lifetime ban can be received by a player from this tribunal.

“It’s impossible for me to give an outcome, it is up to that independent sports tribunal to make that decision. We, on both sides, will have to abide by that decision.”

Although all 10 players charged are from China, Ferguson said he was confident that the country would soon stage tournaments again. They have been suspended since the coronavirus pandemic.

“Of course there is some short-term damage, it’s not a great look for us,” Ferguson said.

“It’s unfortunate we are in this position but our partners in China, the sports authority of China, they’re alongside us here. Whatever the outcome is, the demand is great for the sport.

“I can tell you that we are in very good talks with China over our return to China. I am very positive about returning there for the new season ahead.”

Yan pocketed £250,000 when he became the youngest Masters champion in 26 years by recovering from 7-5 down to beat John Higgins 10-8 in the final in January 2021.

Zhao Xintong, whose UK Championship victory in December that year meant Chinese players held two of the sport’s three ‘triple crown’ titles, has been charged with being concerned with fixing matches and betting on snooker.

Liang Wenbo, who was the first player to be suspended as part of the investigation in October, is charged with being concerned in fixing matches and approaching players to fix matches, as well as seeking to obstruct and failing to cooperate with the investigation.

The full list of charges appeared in a WPBSA statement which read: “Following a detailed investigation by the WPBSA Integrity Unit, working closely with Sportradar, the WPBSA has decided that 10 snooker players have a case to answer in respect of the following alleged breaches of the WPBSA Conduct Regulations.”

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Two further Chinese players suspended from World Snooker Tour through match-fixing investigation

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Former UK champion Zhao Xintong and Zhang Jiankang have joined the list of players suspended from the World Snooker Tour during an investigation into alleged match-fixing.

Zhao, who beat Luca Brecel to win the 2021 UK Championship title, and Zhang, the world number 82, have been banned from attending or competing on the Tour with immediate effect.

Former Masters champion Yan Bingtao and seven other Chinese players have already been suspended by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA).

A WPBSA statement read: “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. Both Zhao and Zhang have the right to appeal this decision.

“The WPBSA can confirm that the wider investigation is now at an advanced stage, and it is anticipated will be completed shortly at which point any potential charges will be considered.

“No further comment will be made at this time, except in the event of any significant further developments.”

World number 56 Liang Wenbo was the first player to be suspended as part of the investigation in October, with Lu Ning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning, Chang Bingyu and Chen Zifan suspended in December.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Five players banned from World Snooker Tour over match-fixing allegations

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Five players have been banned from the World Snooker Tour due to ‘allegations of manipulating the outcome of matches for betting purposes’ with Lu Ning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning and Chang Bingyu all suspended.

These bans have come about after Liang Wenbo’s suspension from the tour in October and the investigation which arose, meaning six players in total are now barred from playing.

A WPBSA statement read: ‘WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson has taken the decision to suspend Lu Ning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning and Chang Bingyu from attending or competing on the World Snooker Tour with immediate effect.

‘This follows 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 suspensions of all six players will remain in place until the conclusion of the investigation or any subsequent charges that may or may not be brought. These players have the right to appeal this decision.

‘The investigation remains ongoing, and no further comment will be made until the investigation is complete.’

Lu Ning is the highest ranked of the players to be banned at number 42 in the world, Liang Wenbo, who was already suspended, is #52, with Li Hang #62.

Chang Bingyu, who is just 20, is at number 77 in the rankings, with Bai Langning down at 126 and Zhao Jianbo not currently on the professional tour.

On 27 October it was confirmed that Liang had been suspended, but it was not announced that it was over match-fixing.

A WPBSA statement at the time read: ‘The WPBSA has today suspended Liang Wenbo from attending or competing in WPBSA sanctioned events.

‘This is due to an ongoing investigation into allegations of misconduct. The suspension will remain in place until the conclusion of the investigation or the outcome of disciplinary proceedings.

‘The WPBSA will not comment further until the investigation is complete.’

MORE : Ding Junhui: We need to save snooker, let’s try different things

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'Completely foolish' - Jason Ferguson fires warning as match-fixing probe extends to Yan Bingtao

Updated 12/12/2022 at 15:46 GMT

Jason Ferguson told Eurosport that it would be “completely foolish” for any player to consider match-fixing. The WPBSA chairman was talking to Eurosport after World No. 16 Yan Bingtao became the latest player suspended from attending or competing on the World Snooker Tour. Yan is the seventh player to be suspended as the sport's authorities probe match-fixing.

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