The result of the match-fixing penalty is controversial! Zhao Xintong was banned for the shortest period, and Chang Bingyu was banned for 2 years with the lightest plot

On June 7, 2023, Beijing time, the World Snooker Tour released the specific results of 10 players in China who were punished for match-fixing, but this result caused controversy. The independent WPBSA disciplinary committee ruled on ten players charged with game manipulation and imposed life bans on Liang Wenbo and Li Xing, as well as long-term bans on other players involved. Of the 10 players, the shortest suspension is China's highest-ranked Zhao Xintong, who will be banned for 20 months. Chang Bingyu, who was previously considered to have the lightest plot, was to be banned for 2 years, in addition, the time of Bai Langning and Zhao Jianbo's ban was also controversial.

The specific punishment results of 10 suspended players in China

After months of investigation and trial, the specific punishment results of 10 Chinese players for game manipulation and illegal betting have been announced. Liang Wenbo was sentenced to a life ban and paid £43,000. Li was sentenced to a life ban and paid £43,000. Lu Ning was sentenced to an eight-year ban, which was reduced to a five-year and four-month ban until 6 April 2028, taking into account his early confession, and will pay £7,500.

Yan Bingtao was sentenced to 7 years and 6 months, but he pleaded guilty early, so the ban was reduced to 5 years, and the ban was lifted on December 11, 2027, and he would pay £7,500. Zhao Xintong was sentenced to a 2-year and 6-month ban, but he pleaded guilty early, so the ban was reduced to 20 months, and by 1 September 2024, he will pay a fee of £7,500. Zhao Jianbo was sentenced to a 3-year and 6-month ban, and after an early confession, he was sentenced to a 2-year and 4-month ban, which will not be lifted until April 7, 2025, and will pay a fee of £7,500.

Chang Bingyu was sentenced to a 3-year ban, which was reduced to 2 years after an early confession, and by December 7, 2024, he will pay a fee of £7,500. Browning was sentenced to a four-year ban, which was reduced to 2 years and 8 months after an early confession until August 6, 2025. He will pay £7500. Chen Zifan was sentenced to a seven-year and six-month ban, which was reduced to five years after an early plea and will pay £7,500 by December 20, 2027. Zhang's sentence to a four-year and five-month ban was reduced to two years and 11 months after an early confession, and the ban will not be lifted until December 1, 2025. He will pay £7,500 in related costs. However, it was such a result that sparked controversy and discussion about the award.

10 Chinese banned players were infringed by violations

Leung arranged or participated in the arrangement of five snooker matches between July 24 and September 28, 2022, and he solicited, induced, lured, persuaded, encouraged or assisted players to arrange nine matches between July 24 and December 13, 2022. Between September 1, 2019 and December 31, 2022, he broke the rules to bet on snooker matches. He threatened another player and asked him to delete messages on his phone, an act that was corrupt. He threatened another player to try to persuade him not to assist in the WPBSA's investigation. On or after September 1, 2022, when aware of the WPBSA's investigation, he covered up or attempted to cover up his involvement in match-fixing by deleting information on his phone and asking other players to delete information from their phones. He did not cooperate with the WPBSA investigation because he did not attend the interview and provide the material requested by the WPBSA investigation.

Li Xing's violations were as follows: He arranged or participated in the arrangement of five snooker matches between July 24 and September 29, 2022. He solicited, induced, lured, persuaded, encouraged or assisted players in arranging seven snooker matches between July 24 and December 13, 2022. Between September 1, 2019 and December 31, 2022, he broke the rules to bet on snooker matches. On or after September 1, 2022, when aware of the WPBSA's investigation, he tried to cover up his involvement in match-fixing by deleting messages on his phone and asking other players to delete information on their phones.

Lu Ning was found not to have been involved in inducing others to manipulate the game. But he accepted the conduct allegations: During the 2014-15 season, he scheduled three snooker matches, and he manipulated one snooker match he participated in on July 23, 2022. Between September 1, 2019 and December 31, 2022, he broke the rules to bet on snooker matches. On or after September 1, 2022, when he became aware of the WPBSA's investigation, Lu Ning covered up or tried to cover up his involvement in the manipulation of match-fixing by deleting messages on his mobile phone.

Yan Bingtao accepted charges of manipulating a match he participated in on August 29, 2016, and he manipulating three snooker matches in which he participated between March 3, 2022 and September 29, 2022. Between September 1, 2019 and December 31, 2022, he broke the rules to bet on snooker matches.

Zhao Xintong accepted the allegation that on March 3 and March 11, 2022, he arranged two snooker matches with another player. Between September 1, 2019 and December 31, 2022, Zhao Xintong was also involved in breaking the rules to place bets on snooker matches.

Zhao Jianbo accepted the charge that on August 26, 2022, he arranged a snooker match he was participating in, and he placed his bet on the snooker match he arranged. Similar to him, Chang Bingyu admitted that he arranged a snooker match on September 28, 2022. Browning admitted that he arranged the result of a snooker match on September 26, 2022.

Chen Zifan accepted that he manipulated the results of three fixed or artificial snooker matches or the specific results of the final score between July 24 and August 23, 2022.

Zhang accepted the fact that he arranged a snooker match on July 22, 2022 and placed bets on snooker matches in violation of the rules between September 1, 2019 and December 31, 2022. During the investigation, he did not provide the information requested by the WPBSA.

If in doubt, the suspended player has until 20 June 2023 to appeal the decision of the Disciplinary Committee.