Ten Chinese snooker players charged with match-fixing by WPBSA

Snooker’s governing body has brought charges of match-fixing against ten Chinese players as a corruption scandal rocks the sport.

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) has investigated a series of claims about games being manipulated, and betting on top level matches.

It has now found enough evidence to begin proper disciplinary proceedings against a number of players, including Yan Bingtao, who won the 2021 Masters, and Zhao Xintong, who won the UK Championships.

Both players were barred from competing in last week’s Masters while the alleged offences were being investigated.

Liang Wenbo, Li Hang, Lu Ning, Zhang Jiangkang, Chen Zifan, Chang Bingyu, Zhao Jianbo and Bai Langning have also been charged, with a range of offences including match-fixing, betting on the outcome of a match and approaching players to fix matches levied at the players.

A number of players have also been charged with attempting to obstruct the investigation.

All players will be called to appear before an independent disciplinary panel when a hearing date is set and they will be suspended until that date.

A statement from World Snooker detailed the charges.

It 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 the following alleged breaches of the WPBSA Conduct Regulations.

“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.

“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.

“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.”