YORK, UK – Nov 12, 2022: Zhao Xintong of China competes in the course of the first spherical match towards Sam Craigie of England at 2022 UK Snooker Championship in York.
Zhai Zheng/Xinhua through Getty Images
LONDON — A match-fixing scandal has led to the suspension of 10 Chinese gamers from snooker’s high touring circuit, together with two massive names from the favored billiards sport.
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association introduced Tuesday that it had suspended Zhao Xintong and his compatriot Zhang Jiankang from competing within the World Snooker Tour. Both gamers have the fitting to enchantment towards the choice.
Zhao — the ninth-ranked participant on the earth who is taken into account one of many sport’s high prospects — received the U.Ok. Championship in 2021 to assert his first rating title and grow to be solely the fourth non-British participant in historical past to triumph on the occasion.
The announcement marked the newest in a sequence of suspensions as a part of an ongoing investigation into the fixing of snooker matches for betting functions.
Alongside Zhao, notable among the many 10 suspensions was the 2021 Masters champion Yan Bingtao, whom the WPBSA banned on Dec. 12., shortly earlier than Chen Zifan.
EDINBURGH, Scotland – Nov. 30, 2022: Yan Bingtao of China reacts in the course of the first spherical match towards Liam Highfield of England on day three of the 2022 BetVictor Scottish Open.
Photo by VCG/VCG through Getty Images
Lu Ning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning and Chang Bingyu had been suspended in early December, after Liang Wenbo turned the primary participant named in October.
Both Yan and Zhao had been due to participate within the 2023 Masters, which begins Sunday and concludes on Jan. 15, however each have been changed within the draw for the top-tier occasion.
“This decision is part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of manipulating the outcome of matches for betting purposes in breach of the WPBSA Conduct Regulations,” the physique stated in a press release Tuesday.
“The WPBSA can confirm that the wider investigation is now at an advanced stage, and it is anticipated will be completed shortly at which point any potential charges will be considered.”
CNBC has contacted the WST for remark from the gamers’ representatives. None of the ten suspended gamers have spoken publicly to the U.Ok. press because the WPBSA bulletins.