Yan Bingtao and Zhao Xintong among five Chinese players handed increased bans after match-fixing probe

Yan Bingtao and Zhao Xintong are among five Chinese snooker players to have been handed increased suspensions from the sport for match-fixing.

Former Masters champion Yan’s five-year ban has been increased to seven-and-a-half years.

Zhao, who won the UK Championship in 2021, was originally banned for one year and eight months but will now be out of action until July 2025.

The remaining three players, Lu Ning, Bai Langning and Zhang Jiankang, now face suspensions of eight years, four years and four years and five months respectively.

Ten players were involved in total, with two – Liang Wenbo and Li Hang – handed lifetime bans from the sport.

The case first began in August 2022 when the International Betting integrity Association (IBIA) issued an alert to the WPBSA Integrity Unit, with the latter beginning a detailed investigation into potential wrongdoing.

The case was then heard between April 24-26 in London, and on May 3, 2023.

When the WPBSA announced its punishments earlier this month, 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.

“Those who try to corrupt sport are constantly trying to find new ways to avoid our monitoring processes and this outcome must be taken as a lesson to those who think they can avoid detection.

“If any player is involved in fixing a snooker match, they will be caught and will face severe penalties.

“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.”