Yan Bingtao One of Seven Snooker Players Under Investigation
Monday was a bleak day in the UK with temperatures barely breaching freezing point across most of the country. But no place seemed colder than Brentwood Centre in Essex. The venue is currently hosting snooker’s BetVictor English Open.
But what should be a relaxed, warm, and relatively sterile environment was more akin to a bleak warehouse as the heating at the venue broke. It left players such as Mark Selby seeking cups of hot drinks to keep their hands warm.
Yan Bingtao was due to play in this week’s English Open, but he is now suspended and under investigation. ©GettyImages
Spectators wore hats and scarves while attempting to fend off the cold conditions. And Eurosport commentator Phil Yates observed: “There’s a lady in the front row, she’s got about 10 layers on. I think that’s advisable in these conditions. Brrrrr! Winter strikes!”
Selby, one of two BestBettingSites.com selections proceeded into the English Open first round following a narrow 4-3 victory over Noppon Saengkham in his qualifying match. Others – such as Elliott Slessor and Fraser Patrick – have unexpectedly received a bye into the second round.
But these and other walkovers – Peter Lines and Ashley Hugill have progressed into the first round without potting a ball – have not happened due to inclement weather preventing players from making their way to the venue …or freezing when inside of it!
Five Join Liang Wenbo on Suspended List
What is potentially the biggest scandal the sport has ever seen is slowly unraveling. On Friday, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) released a statement that read: “WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson has taken the decision to suspend Lu Ning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning, and Chang Bingyu from attending or competing on the World Snooker Tour with immediate effect.”
“This follows the suspension of Liang Wenbo on 27 October 2022 and a subsequent investigation which remains ongoing into allegations of manipulating the outcome of matches for betting purposes in breach of the WPBSA Conduct Regulations.”
“The suspensions of all six players will remain in place until the conclusion of the investigation or any subsequent charges that may or may not be brought. These players have the right to appeal this decision.” The statement concluded: “The investigation remains ongoing, and no further comment will be made until the investigation is complete.”
Top-16 Status Means Bingtao Is Headline News
But the bad news did not end there. On Monday, world number 16 Yan Bingtao arrived at Brentwood Centre to play Ashley Hugill only to be told he too had been suspended as part of the same investigation.
As a top-16 ranked player, news of Bingtao’s suspension has quickly made headlines amongst mainstream media. A quarter-finalist in last season’s World Championship, 22-year-old Bingtao landed the prestigious Masters in 2021.
Only one Chinese player is higher in the world rankings than Bingtao. That distinction belongs to the number nine ranked Zhao Xintong. Ding Junhui is 21 in the latest list. China’s Zhou Yuelong is 27, and Xiao Guodong, Lyu Haotian, and Fan Zhengyi are also within the top 40.
Match Fixers Lee and Delu Paid the Price
Yan Bingtao was due to play Mark Williams in the first round of the Masters at London’s Alexandra Palace in January. He was 16/1 with the best snooker betting sites but is now unlikely to take part and could be replaced in the draw. Should the WPBSA find Bingtao or any player in breach of match-fixing rules, penalties are sure to be harsh.
In October 2012, former world number-five Stephen Lee was suspended. 11 months later he was found guilty of breaching Rule 2.9 of the WPBSA Members Rules and Regulations by accepting payment to influence the outcome of a match. Then 39, Lee received a twelve-year ban which will expire in October 2024.
China’s Yu Delu – once ranked world 43 – is currently serving a 10-year and nine months ban for five instances of match-fixing between February 2015 and November 2017. Countryman Cao Yupeng served a ban for match-fixing between 25 May 2018 and 24 November 2020. He returned to the sport and is currently world-ranked number 56.
