Former UK champion Zhao Xintong and Zhang Jiankang have been suspended from snooker, taking the total temporarily banned to a staggering TEN.
In the biggest match-fixing probe in the sport’s history the pair’s suspensions in addition to another eight Chinese pros got the New Year off to the worst possible start for the game. And the inclusion of world No 9 and reigning German Masters champion Zhao, 25, in the investigation has sent shockwaves through the sport.
Zhao is one of the game’s biggest stars and the highest-ranked professional to be suspended over the probe. He had been due to be playing four-time world champion Mark Selby at the prestigious Masters tournament at Alexandra Palace on Sunday.