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.
The players can appeal the suspensions and would usually have 14 days for that - but the process may be accelerated this week to establish whether or not he can take part in north London.
If Zhao cannot play there could yet be a late call-up for Iran’s Hossein Vafaei, who was ranked No 18 at the cut-off point after this year’s UK Championship. The place of the equally suspended Yan Bingtao, a former Masters winner, had already been taken by then No 17 David Gilbert.
World No 82 Zhang, 24, joins the others to have been suspended including Liang Wenbo, Lu Ning, Li Hang, Bai Langning, Chang Bingyu and Zhao Jianbo. If any of the players are now charged and found guilty of offences related to the manipulating of matches for betting purposes, they can expect long bans.
And the latest news may not help snooker in its bid to get back into China where there have been none of the many big-money tournaments since the outbreak of Covid.
A World Snooker Tour statement read: “WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson has taken the decision to suspend Zhao Xintong and Zhang Jiankang from attending or competing on the World Snooker Tour with immediate effect.
“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 suspension will remain in place until the conclusion of the investigation or any subsequent charges that may or may not be brought. Both Zhao and Zhang have the right to appeal this decision.
“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.
“No further comment will be made at this time, except in the event of any significant further developments.”
Speaking recently when the other top-16 player Yan was suspended, Ferguson said: “It is damaging to the sport, the headlines we are seeing.
“But it would be more damaging to leave it and try to hide it. The only way to rid the sport of that damage is to deal with it as swiftly as possible. Any player in any sport these days and especially snooker that thinks they can manipulate matches for betting purposes…they will be found out.
“Everything is connected, and we have a sophisticated team and systems in place. Anyone found guilty will get what they deserve. All of the players are temporarily suspended, sanctions imposed by me as chairman. We take a zero tolerance approach to the manipulation of matches.
“We are experienced in investigations of this kind, we have a fantastic team headed by Nigel Mawer, our Head of Integrity, who has been working on this one for some time. We didn’t know how far it would go, and as the case has progressed more players have become involved. None have yet been charged, prosecuted or found guilty of fixing matches.
“But they are implicated. And while that is the case, they are suspended. It is not a good look for the sport, but we are a sport that chooses to deal with it in public and be transparent. Those people that buy a ticket to watch these games, they deserve to see live sport fought in the way it was meant to be played. That is why we have to deal with it.
“This has come as a shock. We educate players, especially new players. But there are people all over the world trying to corrupt all sports, in some cases organised criminals.”
Former world champion Shaun Murphy has already stated that any player found guilty of match fixing should be banned for life.
