Snooker match fixing: 5 players given longer bans in China face global exclusion too, WPBSA confirms in blow for Yan Bingtao and Zhao Xintong

The 10 players found guilty in snooker’s biggest ever scandal have their punishments endorsed by the Chinese federation – which extends five of the suspensions

Players whose global ban ends before their domestic one could effectively remain banned, world governing body reveals

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Yan Bingtao’s global ban had been reduced by a third for pleading guilty, but the Chinese federation has restored its full length. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 9:01pm, 22 Jun 2023Updated: 10:47pm, 22 Jun 2023

Five of the 10 Chinese snooker players found guilty of match-fixing offences have effectively had their bans extended by a third after their country’s association announced domestic suspensions outlasting their global punishments.

The lengthened bans were outlined by the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association (CBSA) on Wednesday as it upheld the sanctions handed out this month by international governing body the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA).

While the CBSA reiterated the lifetime worldwide bans given to Liang Wenbo and Li Hang for their leading roles in snooker’s biggest ever fixing scandal, it extended the bans for five other players. They include the most high-profile pair of Yan Bingtao and Zhao Xintong, each tipped as a future world champion.

Its punishments for the five equated to the suspensions the WPBSA originally calculated before they were reduced by a third for pleading guilty. The 10 players were found guilty of rule breaches including fixing matches, persuading other players to do so, and betting on matches.

Zhao Xintong could have played again next year under the WPBSA ruling, but must now wait until 2025. Photo: Xinhua

Asked by the Post whether China’s ruling could prevent players competing abroad after their worldwide bans expire, the WPBSA on Thursday explained that its regulations require players competing on the World Snooker Tour (WST) to be in “good standing” with their national federation.

“The CBSA suspension may preclude a player from being in good standing,” a WPBSA spokesman said.

Snooker match fixing: 5 players given longer bans in China face global exclusion too, WPBSA confirms in blow for Yan Bingtao and Zhao Xintong

The 10 players found guilty in snooker’s biggest ever scandal have their punishments endorsed by the Chinese federation – which extends five of the suspensions Players whose global ban ends before their domestic one could effectively remain banned, world governing body reveals

The 10 players found guilty in snooker’s biggest ever scandal have their punishments endorsed by the Chinese federation – which extends five of the suspensions

Players whose global ban ends before their domestic one could effectively remain banned, world governing body reveals