10 Chinese stars charged in match-fixing crackdown

FORMER Masters champion Yan Bingtao and world No 9 Zhao Xintong are among 10 Chinese snooker players charged with match-fixing and betting offences.

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association announced yesterday that the players — who were already suspended — ‘have a case to answer’ after the sport’s largest corruption investigation. Bingtao, who won the Masters aged 20 in 2021, is one of six stars charged with fixing a match or matches on the World Snooker Tour, along with Lu Ning, Zhang Jiankang, Chen Zifan, Chang Bingyu and Zhao Jianbo. Xintong, the 2021 UK Championship winner, faces a count of ‘being concerned’ in fixing matches, as does Bai Langning.

Liang Wenbo, who was the first player suspended as part of the probe last October, is charged with being concerned in fixing matches, approaching players to fix matches and seeking to obstruct the investigation — the same allegations that are levelled at Li Hang.

The players will now face an independent disciplinary tribunal, which could be heard in March. Anyone found guilty faces a lengthy — and possibly lifetime — ban from the sport.