Beijing, June 6 (ZXS) -- On June 7, local time, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WTF) issued a statement saying that the Disciplinary Committee of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WTF) has ruled on 6 players accused of manipulating the game, and imposed lifelong bans on Liang Wenbo and Li Xing, and long-term bans on other relevant players.

The specific penalties are as follows:

1. Liang Wenbo was sentenced to a lifetime ban from participating in snooker and paid £43,000.

2. Li Xing was sentenced to a lifetime ban from participating in snooker matches and paid £43,000.

Lu Ning was sentenced to an eight-year ban, reduced to five years and four months until 3 April 8 after his cooperation and guilty pleas, and paid £5,4.

4. Yan Bingtao was sentenced to a 7-year and 6-month ban, which was reduced to 5 years, until 2027 December 12, after his cooperation and guilty plea, and paid a fee of £11,7.

5. Zhao Xintong was sentenced to a ban of 2 years and 6 months, which was reduced to 1 year and 8 months until 2024 September 9 after his cooperation and guilty plea, and paid a fee of £1,7.

6. Zhao Jianbo was sentenced to a three-year and six-month ban, which was reduced to two years and four months until 3 April 6 after his cooperation and guilty plea, and paid a fee of £2,4.

7. Chang Bingyu was sentenced to a three-year ban, which was reduced to 3 years, until 2 December 2024, after providing cooperation and pleading guilty, and paid £12,7.

Browning was sentenced to a four-year ban, reduced to two years and eight months until 8 August 4, after his cooperation and guilty pleas, and paid £2,8.

9. Chen Zifan was sentenced to a 7-year and 6-month ban, which was reduced to 5 years, until 2027 December 12, after his cooperation and guilty pleas, and paid a fee of £20,7.

10. Zhang was sentenced to a four-year-4-month ban, which was reduced to two years and 5 months until 2 December 11, after his cooperation and guilty pleas, and paid £2025,12.

In late October 2022, the World Federation announced that Liang Wenbo was banned from attending or participating in the World Snooker Tour; Subsequently, in December, Lu Ning, Li Xing, Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning, Chang Bingyu, Yan Bingtao, Chen Zifan and seven others were banned for allegedly manipulating the results of the game for the purpose of gambling.

At the beginning of 2023, Zhao Xintong and Zhang Health were also banned. Following the two men's bans, a total of 10 Chinese snooker players were deemed to be suspected of manipulating the game and suspended from the incident, and they were ordered not to attend and participate in the World Snooker Tour and other sports events administered by the World Taiwan Federation until all hearings were completed and the case was finally decided, and they were required to appear in court to answer the alleged violation of the WPA's code of conduct.

The case was heard in London from April 2023 to 4, 24, and May 26, with the players present live or via video to attend the hearing. On June 5, local time, the Disciplinary Committee of the World Federation of Taiwan and Taiwan Union, which announced independence, announced the results of the investigation and punishment decision.

Data map: Liang Wenbo is interviewed by the media. Photo by Yu Kun, reporter of the China News Agency

According to the findings, Liang Wenbo manipulated or participated in the manipulation of five snooker matches between July 2022 and September 7, 24. Between July 9 and December 28, 2022, he solicited, induced, lured, persuaded, abetted or assisted players in manipulating nine matches.

In addition, Liang Wenbo also has a series of behaviors such as betting on matches, corruption, and not cooperating with the investigation of the World Federation of Taiwan Compatriots.

Data map: Li Xing in the game. Photo by Yu Kun, reporter of the China News Agency

Another player, Li Xing, who was banned for life, manipulated or participated in the manipulation of five snooker matches between July 2022 and September 7, 24. Between July 9 and December 29, 2022, he solicited, induced, seduced, persuaded, abetted or assisted players in manipulating seven snooker matches.

Between September 2019, 9 and December 1, 2022, he placed bets on snooker matches in violation of the rules.

On or after September 2022, 9, when he learned that the WTO was investigating, he covered up or tried to cover up his involvement in the manipulation of the game by deleting the information on his own mobile phone and asking other players to delete the information on the mobile phone.

Image source: Zhao Xintong's personal social media.

After the penalty decision was announced, Zhao Xintong, who had won the British Championship, issued an apology statement, saying: "It has betrayed the trust of the fans and brought shame to Chinese snooker." ”

After the release of the punishment announcement of the World Taiwan Federation, the Chinese Billiards Association also issued an announcement, stating that it would severely punish the players involved and carry out industry-wide warning education.

Announcement of the Chinese Billiards Association.

The announcement said that the Chinese Billiards Association attaches great importance to the manipulation of the results of 10 professional snooker players during the participation in the World Professional Ranking Tournament in the United Kingdom, and according to the results of the World Professional Billy and Snooker Association investigation, the players involved will be severely punished. The association will carry out warning education throughout the industry and launch a series of measures to carry out anti-gambling and counterfeiting to the end.

"The China Billiards Association has always adhered to a 'zero tolerance' attitude towards gambling, match-fixing and other behaviors that violate sportsmanship, resolutely cracked down on gambling, match-fixing and other behaviors, and strived to create a fair and just playing environment." The announcement reads.

The announcement said that in the future, the Chinese Billiards Association will further strengthen the management of professional players in the UK, strengthen cooperation with international organizations, and jointly prevent similar incidents from happening again. At the same time, in China, we will continue to carry out anti-gambling and counterfeiting actions, rectify Psiphon discipline, and purify the atmosphere of the arena, further improve and implement the "Disciplinary Guidelines and Punishment Regulations of the Chinese Billiards Association", promote the publicity and education of Psiphon discipline to mass and commercial events, establish a supervision and reporting mechanism, and implement the work in a down-to-earth manner. (End)