Beijing, June 6 (ZXS) -- On June 7, local time, the World Professional Billy and Snooker Association (WPBSA) ruled on 6 Chinese players accused of manipulating the game: Liang Wenbo and Li Xing were banned for life, Yan Bingtao was banned for 10 years, Zhao Xintong was banned for 5 year and 1 months, and the remaining 8 were suspended for different times.
From the second half of 2022 to the beginning of 2023, 10 Chinese snooker players were banned by the World Taiwan Federation for allegedly manipulating the results of the game for the purpose of gambling, including Zhao Xintong and Yan Bingtao, the world's highest-ranking Chinese players at the time (both ranked in the world's top 16), and Liang Wenbo, the third "post-80s" star in China to win the ranking tournament.
On the 6th local time, WPBSA issued a statement announcing that the WPBSA Disciplinary Committee has ruled on 10 players accused of manipulating the game: Liang Wenbo and Li Xing were sentenced to a lifetime ban from participating in snooker matches and paid a fee of 43000,7 pounds; Yan Bingtao was sentenced to a 6-year and 5-month ban, which was reduced to 2027 years until 12 December 11 after his cooperation and guilty plea, and paid £7500,2; Zhao Xintong was sentenced to a two-year-6-month ban, which was reduced to 1 year and 8 months until 2024 September 9 after his cooperation and guilty plea, and paid £1,7500.
The other 6 were banned for 5 years and 4 months, Chen Zifan for 5 years, Zhang Jianjian for 2 years and 11 months, Bai Langning for 2 years and 8 months, Zhao Jianbo for 2 years and 4 months, and Chang Bingyu for 2 years.
The ruling is arguably the heaviest penalty in snooker history. WPBSA President Jason Ferguson said in a statement that some young and promising players violated the WPBSA's Code of Conduct under pressure from two senior players, which is completely unacceptable. For some who are left to chance, the result must be a lesson, and any player involved in manipulating snooker matches will be severely punished.
According to the WPBSA, following an alert from the International Gaming Integrity Association (IBIA) in August 2022, the WPBSA Integrity Department worked closely with Sportradar to conduct a detailed investigation and ultimately charged 8 snooker players with serious violations of the WPBSA Code of Conduct. The 10 players were suspended separately pending a ruling on the violations.
The case was heard in London from April 4 to 24 this year, as well as on May 26, with the players involved attending the hearing in person or via video. The WPBSA Disciplinary Tribunal announced its findings and ruling decision on the case on the 5th.
The statement said the defendants had until June 2023, 6 to appeal the decision of the disciplinary court. (End)