Snooker world reeling after 2021 masters champion Yan Bingtao among seven banned after match-fixing probe
The snooker world is reeling after a slew of pros were banned as the result of a probe into match-fixing.
Seven Chinese players have now been suspended. Five - Lu Ning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning and Chang Bingyu - were all suspended last week, with 2021 Masters champion Yan Bingtao banned on Monday.
A seventh player, Liang Wenbo, was suspended in October pending a "domestic misconduct" investigation.
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In a statement, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) said the suspension of these latest six players stemmed from the Wenbo investigation.
Yan Bingtao at the British Open in September. VCG via Getty Images
"(The) subsequent investigation ... remains ongoing into allegations of manipulating the outcome of matches for betting purposes," the statement read.
The 22-year-old Yan won the Masters - one of snooker's most prestigious tournaments - in 2021.
WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson conceded the suspensions were "not a great look".
"Obviously, it's not a great look ... but let's not put that in the way of this great sport that goes all over the world," he told the BBC.
"We really are making huge progress and the sport is played in the best of spirits 99.99 per cent of the time."
Former world champion, Australian Neil Robertson said he was "quite shocked" at the news.
"His name was on the board to play the earlier session and then it was taken down," he said.
Neil Robertson in action. Getty
"(WPBSA) would have done all their due diligence, having a look at certain cases or whatever, and they thought it was the right call to take him off the match and bring him in for questioning.
"I'm very much a believer in innocent until proven guilty, but they believe there's something there.
"Snooker have an unbelievable sort of unit for this sort of stuff, and they'll take all the necessary steps to make sure they come to the right outcome."
Bingtao was supposed to play in the English Open this week. His first-round opponent has been awarded a walkover.
He was also drawn Mark Williams in the first round of the 2023 Masters in London in the New Year. He will likely now be replaced in the draw.
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