Snooker match-fixing scandal: Liang Wenbo and Li Hang handed lifetime bans (2023)
 Posted on : Jun 7, 2023, 11:52AM   27 total views  Category : Sports

Li Hang

Li Hang (pictured) and Liang Wenbo have to pay £43,000 costs each as well as their lifetime bans

 

Chinese players Liang Wenbo and Li Hang have been handed lifetime bans for their involvement in snooker's biggest match-fixing scandal.

 

Eight other players, all from China, have received bans ranging from 20 months to five years and four months from the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA).

 

The allegations include manipulating games, approaching players to cheat, betting on snooker and fixing matches.

 

Yan Bingtao, the 2021 Masters champion, has been banned until December 2027, while former UK Championship winner Zhao Xintong must serve a suspension that ends in September 2024.

 

All 10 players have until 20 June to appeal against the decisions.

 

WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson said: "This has been a very complex case. It has been heart-breaking to see some young talented players fall foul of the WPBSA Conduct Regulations through pressure exerted by two senior players.

 

"This behaviour has been recognised as wholly unacceptable by the imposition of two lifetime bans from participating in recognised snooker in any way.

 

"I am pleased that the commission found that they did not see from the present case any evidence of a wider culture of wrongdoing in snooker.

 

"The WPBSA will continue its strong stance against those who try to manipulate sport and today's outcome sends out a clear message that match-fixing will not be tolerated in snooker."

 

What were the verdicts and punishments?

Zhao Xintong and Yan Bingtao

Zhao Xintong and Yan Bingtao were the two highest-ranked players charged with match-fixing

 

Liang Wenbo

Age: 36 Ranking: 72. Finalist in 2015 UK Championship

Given a lifetime ban and ordered to pay £43,000 in costs. He was found guilty of fixing or being a party to fixing five matches, trying to get other players to fix nine matches, betting on snooker matches, threatening another player, deleting messages and asking other players to, failing to cooperate with the enquiry.

 

Li Hang

Age: 32 Ranking: 71

Given a lifetime ban and ordered to pay £43,000 in costs. He was found guilty of fixing or being a party to fixing five matches, trying to get other players to fix seven matches, betting on snooker matches, deleting messages and asking other players to.

 

Lu Ning

Age: 29 Ranking: 65. Semi-finalist at the 2020 UK Championship

Given a ban of five years and four months, reduced from eight years after his early admissions and guilty plea. He has to pay £7,500 in costs. He was not found guilty of inducing others to fix matches. He accepted charges of fixing four snooker matches he played in, betting on matches and deleting messages.

 

Yan Bingtao

Age: 22 Ranking: 23. First player born in 2000 to turn professional, won 2021 Masters

Given a ban of five years, reduced from seven and a half years after his early admissions and guilty plea. He has to pay £7,500 in costs. He accepted charges of fixing four snooker matches he played in and betting on matches.

 

Zhao Xintong

Age: 25 Ranking: 11. Won 2021 UK Championship and 2022 German Masters

Given a ban of one year and eight months, reduced from two and a half years after his early admissions and guilty plea. He has to pay £7,500 in costs. He accepted charges of being a party to another player fixing two matches and betting on matches himself.

 

Zhang Jiankang

Age: 24. Ranking: 93

Given a ban of two years and 11 months, reduced from four years and five months after his early admissions and guilty plea. He has to pay £7,500 in costs. He accepted charges of fixing a snooker match he played in, betting on matches and not giving the WPBSA information.

 

Chen Zifan

Age: 27. Ranking: 104

Given a ban of five years, reduced from seven and a half years after his early admissions and guilty plea. He has to pay £7,500 in costs. He accepted charges of fixing or contrived, or being a party to an effort to fix or contrive the result or score of three snooker matches that he played in.

 

Chang Bingyu

Age: 20 Ranking: 88

Given a ban of two years, reduced from three years after his early admissions and guilty plea. He has to pay £7,500 in costs. He accepted charges of fixing a snooker match he played in.

 

Zhao Jianbo

Age: 19 Ranking: Amateur

Given a ban of two years and eight months, reduced from three and a half years after his early admissions and guilty plea. He has to pay £7,500 in costs. He accepted charges of fixing a snooker match he played in - and betting on that match.

 

Bai Langning

Age: 20. Ranking: 130

Given a ban of two years and four months, reduced from four years after his early admissions and guilty plea. He has to pay £7,500 in costs. He accepted charges of fixing a snooker match he played in.

 

-- Courtesy of BBC Sport

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