Former Masters champion Yan Bingtao has been handed a five-year ban from snooker, extending until 2027, as part of a major match-fixing scandal that has resulted in lifetime bans for Liang Wenbo and Li Hang. The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) announced the sanctions on 6 June, following a disciplinary hearing held in April and May.
Yan Bingtao, who won the Masters in 2021, was found guilty of match-fixing charges. Former UK Championship winner Zhao Xintong received the shortest suspension of one year and eight months, lasting until September 2024, for being party to another player fixing two matches and betting on snooker.
Liang Wenbo and Li Hang were both banned for life after being found guilty of multiple charges, including fixing matches, soliciting others to fix matches, and attempting to cover up their involvement. The WPBSA described the case as 'complex' and 'heart-breaking', noting that younger players were pressured by senior figures.
WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson stated: 'Those who try to corrupt sport are constantly trying to find new ways to avoid our monitoring processes... If any player is involved in fixing a snooker match, they will be caught and will face severe penalties.' The players have until 20 June to appeal the decisions.
