Liang Wenbo of China.
George Wood – Pa Images | Pa Images | Getty Images
Chinese players Liang Wenbo and Li Hang have been banned for life for match-fixing, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) said on Tuesday.
The pair were found to be fixing snooker matches, convincing or encouraging other players to fix and bet on matches, and other breaches of the rules. They have until June 20 to appeal those decisions.
Eight other Chinese players have been banned, including former UK Championship champion Zhao Xintong who was banned for one year and eight months, and 2021 Masters champion Yan Bingtao who was banned for five years.
WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson said: “It is heartbreaking to see some young talent break the WPBSA Code of Conduct under pressure from two senior players.”
“With the imposition of two lifetime bans from participating in any way in the recognized sport of snooker, this conduct has been deemed completely unacceptable.”