Details of snooker match-fixing case: Yan Bingtao made a mistake 7 years ago Zhao Xintong apologized and denied manipulating the game
On June 7, 2023, Beijing time, the World Professional Billy and Snooker Association officially announced the punishment results for 10 Chinese players, Liang Wenbo and Li Xing were banned for life, Yan Bingtao, who had a bright future, was banned for 5 years, and the shortest ban time was Zhao Xintong, but he was also banned for 1 year and 8 months, and his career suffered a heavy blow. Judging from the details officially released, Yan Bingtao manipulated the game 7 years ago, and in 2022, he manipulated many games, and finally swallowed the bitter fruit.
Since last season, 10 Chinese players have been banned for allegedly manipulating the game, commonly known as match-fixing, the biggest scandal in the history of snooker and humiliating Chinese snooker. Because of the large number of players involved and the complexity of the case, the investigation of this case lasted for a long time, the independent disciplinary committee carried out evidence collection work, and then held a hearing, most of the players admitted their mistakes in advance and won the opportunity for leniency.
The final result was that Liang Wenbo and Li Xing were banned for life, and the official made it clear that these two senior players put a lot of pressure on young players, in addition to manipulating the game themselves and inducing other players to assist in manipulating the game, there was also a very serious problem was not cooperating with the investigation, Liang Wenbo did not even participate in the interview, did not provide the relevant investigation materials required by the government, and was eventually banned for life.
Among these 10 players, Yan Bingtao and Zhao Xintong had the best results and bright futures, but in the end they destroyed their future. Yan Bingtao was banned for 5 years, and the official details show that he manipulated the match as early as 2016, when the Paul Hunter Classic 1/8 final was lost, and Yan Bingtao lost 1-4 to Dominic Dale. In addition, in the 2022 Welsh Open, Turkish Masters, and British Open, Yan Bingtao admitted the fact of manipulating the game. Yan Bingtao's ban will be lifted on December 11, 2027, and although he was still very young at that time, no one can say for sure what the future holds.
Zhao Xintong is the player with the shortest ban, but he is also banned for 1 year and 8 months, and the release period is September 1, 2024. Officials have two charges against Zhao, first, that he was the party of another player for manipulating two snooker matches, and second, that he bet on matches in violation of regulations. Zhao Xintong then publicly apologized, admitting that he bet on snooker matches, but denied manipulating the game, did not have the thought and behavior of manipulating the game, he only responded to the request of his good friend and "helped" his good friend, and never received any form of benefit in return.
In addition, Lu Ning was banned for 5 years and 4 months, Zhao Jianbo was banned for 2 years and 4 months, Chang Bingyu was banned for 2 years, Bai Langning was banned for 2 years and 8 months, Chen Zifan was banned for 5 years, and Zhang Health was banned for 2 years and 11 months. The careers of these players have been hit hard, and there is a big uncertainty about when to return to the professional arena, don't forget, the heavy fines of the Chinese Taiwan Association are still waiting for them!