Liang Wenbo was the first player to be banned the month of October from participating in World Snooker Tour Events by the WPBSA.
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The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) announced on December 23, 2022 that China’s Chen Zifan has been suspended from the World Snooker Tour as a result of an investigation into alleged match-fixing. As part of an ongoing match-fixing enquiry, Chen Zifan has now become the eighth player to be banned from World Snooker Tour events. Liang Wenbo was the first player to be banned the month of October, and on December 9, Lu Ning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning, and Chang Bingyu were all barred from competing or attending events. Yan Bingtao was the seventh snooker player to be suspended on December 12, 2022.
Yan’s suspension earlier this month was the most high-profile, given he is the current world number 16 and a previous Masters champion, and it occurred at the English Open after he failed to show up for his first-round match. On December 12, Ferguson told Eurosport that they had received new evidence, which required them to interrogate Yan. Nigel Mawer, the head of integrity, interviewed Yan extensively. As a result of that interview and deliberations, the decision was made to suspend Yan Bingtao with immediate effect, pending the outcome of this inquiry or any potential disciplinary procedures that may follow.
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The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) statement read that, “WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson has taken the decision to suspend Chen Zifan from attending or competing on the World Snooker Tour with immediate effect. This decision is part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of manipulating the outcome of matches for betting purposes in breach of the WPBSA Conduct Regulations. The suspension will remain in place until the conclusion of the investigation or any subsequent charges that may or may not be brought. Chen Zifan has the right to appeal this decision. No further comment will be made except in the event of any significant further developments.”
The Chairman Ferguson further added that, “We’re a long way down the road with this investigation. We’re constantly monitoring markets and everything else. We know what’s going on. And if any player thinks they can get away with it [match-fixing], by the way, they’re completely foolish because we can find it easily.”
