Iran’s Hossein Vafaei has become the second player drafted in as a replacement for this weekend’s Masters as a match-fixing probe continues to rock snooker.
There are 10 Chinese players currently suspended from the tour due to a corruption investigation - including world No.9 and former UK winner Zhao Xintong and 2021 Masters champion Yan Bingtao. Both Zhao, 25, one of the two most recently sidelined, and the 22-year-old Yan had been due to play in the prestigious invitation tournament at Alexandra Palace reserved for the top 16 players.
World No.16 Yan saw his place go to David Gilbert, who was ranked No.17 at the cut-off qualification point at the end of the UK Championship in November. And now rising star Zhao, also the reigning German Masters champion, who had been due to play Mark Selby on Sunday night, has seen his place go to former Shootout winner Vafaei, who was ranked No.18.
The suspension of the two Chinese superstars casts a big shadow over the event, which features all the other top players including Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Selby and defending champion Neil Robertson. But whatever the unfortunate circumstances it will be a long-cherished Masters debut for Vafaei, 28, the first Iranian to play in the event, and a player who has been knocking on the door of the top 16 for 18 months.
And having sneaked in the back door his prize will be a glamour first-round tie against three-time winner Selby on Sunday evening in north London. Zhao technically had 14 days to appeal his suspension from earlier this week, but the governing body needed to try and quickly establish his plans with the Masters looming so close.
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Four-time world champion Selby, 39, now with a new Ally Pally opponent, knows that due process must take its course with as yet no charges – but accepts the game’s image is being damaged.
He said: “It is a really sad time for the sport, and it is not putting snooker in a great light. The authorities are doing everything they can to stamp it out of the game.
“They have obviously got enough evidence on the players to suspend them. Hopefully it will get sorted out whichever way. It is tough because you don’t want it in any sport, and even more so in the sport you are involved in yourself.
“We don’t want it in the sport, and anyone caught doing that needs to be punished. If it is proved and bans are substantial time then hopefully people will stop doing it.”
The other players currently suspended are Zhang Jiankang, Liang Wenbo, Lu Ning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning, Chang Bingyu and Chen Zifan.
