World Snooker Charge Chinese Ten with Match-Fixing Offences
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) – the governing body of professional snooker – announced on Wednesday that ten previously suspended Chinese players have been charged with match-fixing.
Liang Wenbo faces four WPBSA charges. ©GettyImages
Confirming matters will now be referred to a formal hearing before an Independent Disciplinary Tribunal, a WPBSA press release read: “Following a detailed investigation by the WPBSA Integrity Unit, working closely with Sportradar, the WPBSA has decided that ten snooker players have a case to answer in respect of alleged breaches of the WPBSA Conduct Regulations.”
Fell like a House of Cards
Snooker’s biggest-ever scandal began to unravel in October 2022 when Liang Wenbo was suspended as “allegations of manipulating the outcome of matches for betting purposes in breach of the WPBSA Conduct Regulations” were investigated.
In mid-December, an additional five Chinese snooker players were suspended. Days later, Yan Bingtao – winner of the 2021 Masters when aged just 20 – was also temporarily barred as part of the same investigation.
Days before Christmas world number 93 Chen Zifan became the eighth Chinese player to be investigated and suspended in relation to the widening match-fixing investigation. And two days into the New Year, Zhao Xintong – twice a ranking tournament winner during the 2021/22 season – and Zhang Jiankang were also stood down.
13 Chinese Players Remain Active in Top 100
The action means nine of the 22 Chinese players currently ranked within the world top 100 are currently suspended and facing charges. The number includes two players that reside in the world’s top 16: Zhao Xintong (ranked 9) and Yan Bingtao (16).
The WPBSAs most recent announcement did give an overview of each of the accused players’ charges. Its statement reads:
Liang Wenbo has been charged with being concerned with fixing matches, 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 with fixing matches, 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, being concerned with fixing matches, 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 with 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 with fixing a match on the World Snooker Tour.
Concerned about Match and Matches
Ultimately, six players are charged with fixing a match or matches: Yan Bingtao, Lu Ning, Zhang Jiankang, Chen Zifan, Chang Bingyu and Zhao Jianbo. It is noteworthy that Chang Bingyu, Zhao Jianbo and Zhang Jiankang are accused of fixing only one match. Likewise, Bai Langning is charged only with “being concerned in fixing a match.”
During the current season, Langning played (and lost 4-1) to Zhao Xintong in September’s British Open. It was the only time he played any of his co-accused during the 2022/23 season.
Bingyu has played just one of his accused countrymen this season. In July 2022, he lost 3-0 to Zhao Xintong in a low-key Championship League match. Zhao Jianbo has not played any of the other nine charged players during the past eight months.
And none of Zhang Jiankang’s 11 matches (losing ten) during the 2022/23 season saw him play a Chinese rival. However, he beat Li Hang (3-0) in the 2021 British Open and lost heavily to Liang Wenbo in the 2022 Welsh Open and Turkish Masters.
