As part of the most substantial match-fixing scandal in snooker history, Liang Wenbo and Li Hang from China have received lifetime bans, alongside a fine of £43,000 each.
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) have also penalized eight other Chinese players, with bans varying between 20 months and five years and four months.
The charges encompass game manipulation, inviting players to cheat, snooker betting, and match-fixing.
The ban on 2021 Masters champion, Yan Bingtao, will last until December 2027, whereas Zhao Xintong, the former UK Championship winner, is suspended until September 2024.
Appeals against the decisions can be made by all 10 players until 20 June.
The WPBSA chairman, Jason Ferguson, labeled the case complex and devastating, especially for the younger players who fell victim to pressure from the senior ones. The lifetime bans highlight the WPBSA’s zero-tolerance policy on such misconduct in snooker.
Ferguson also expressed relief that no evidence of a broader culture of malpractice in snooker was found in the current case. He reassured that the WPBSA will persistently combat sport manipulation, and today’s verdict reinforces the message that match-fixing will not be tolerated in snooker.
The key verdicts and punishments are:
Liang Wenbo, aged 36 and ranked 72, received a lifetime ban and a £43,000 fine. Charges include being involved in fixing five matches, attempting to persuade other players to fix nine matches, betting on snooker games, and failing to cooperate with the enquiry.
Li Hang, aged 32 and ranked 71, received a lifetime ban and a £43,000 fine. He was found guilty of similar charges as Wenbo, except for trying to get other players to fix seven matches.
Lu Ning, aged 29 and ranked 65, received a five years and four months ban and a £7,500 fine. His sentence was reduced from eight years due to early admissions and guilty plea. He accepted charges of fixing four snooker matches he participated in, betting on games, and deleting messages.
Yan Bingtao, aged 22 and ranked 23, received a five-year ban and a £7,500 fine, reduced from seven and a half years due to early admissions and guilty plea. He accepted charges of fixing four matches he participated in and betting on games.
Zhao Xintong, aged 25 and ranked 11, received a one year and eight months ban and a £7,500 fine, reduced from two and a half years due to early admissions and guilty plea. He accepted charges of aiding another player in fixing two matches and betting on games himself.
Other penalized players include Zhang Jiankang, Chen Zifan, Chang Bingyu, Zhao Jianbo, and Bai Langning, each receiving different lengths of bans, £7,500 fines, and accepting various charges related to match-fixing and betting.
5 comments
Oh man, that’s harsh. But fair. You cheat, you pay the price. This ain’t good for the game at all!
Can’t believe it. These were some of my favorite players, ruined their own careers for what?? really sad…
Wow, I used to look up to these players. now i dont know what to think. it’s just so disappointing…
A lifetime ban sounds right! Let it be a lesson for others who might think about fixing matches. Got no sympathy for cheaters.
This just makes me sick. Used to love watching snooker, now it’s all tainted. Why can’t they just play fair? Its not that hard.