[The Epoch Times, 07 gennaio 2023](Full report by Epoch Times reporter Li Rongshi) Over the past month, as many as ten Chinese players have been punished for “game cheating” and violating regulations.billiardsThe players were punished by the World Billiards FederationSuspension. This nearly destroyed half of China’s billiards. The two highest-scoring Chinese players in the world, Zhao Xintong andYan Bintao, thus losing eligibility for “Masters”. Famous Chinese player Ding Junhui was also investigated and no violations were found, which can be considered a bit of a face for the Chinese snooker world.
A total of ten people involved in the case have been arrested in ChinaSuspension
At present, the 10 Chinese players who have been suspendedbilliardsThe contestants are: Liang Wenbo, Lu Ning, Li Xing, Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning, Chang Bingyu,Yan Bintao, Chen Zifan, Zhao Xintong, Zhang Jiankang. According to mainland media reports, the storylines of the ten people involved in the case are different. The most serious cases are Liang Wenbo and Li Xing. The two are identified as the organizers, and “interest groups” are involved behind them. The couple are expected to be suspended for years and face criminal investigations by the Chinese judiciary.
22-year-old Yan Bingtao was 17 years and 282 days old and became the youngest player in history to reach the final of a large-scale tournament, known as Ding Junhui’s strongest successor. According to mainland media reports, at the beginning of the investigation, Yan Bingtao admitted to participating in the crackdown.match fixing。
25-year-old Zhao Xintong is mainland China’s most anticipated billiard player. Last season he won the British Championship, one of three Grand Slams. Facing investigations by the World Taiwan Federation, Zhao Xintong refused to admit to being involved in match-fixing or game manipulation. Considering his wealthy family (known as the “wealthy second generation” by fans), he doesn’t need to manipulate the game to make a profit. At present, it seems that it is only illegal betting and guessing the outcome of the game. The circumstances are relatively minor, and the suspension period is estimated to be months.
Zhao Xintong is currently the highest ranked Chinese snooker player in the world and the only Chinese player in the top ten; Yan Bingtao ranks 16th in the world. The Snooker Masters is the “highlight” of one of three Grand Slam tournaments, which can only be played by players ranked in the top 16 in the world. Both Zhao Xintong and Yan Bingtao had previously qualified for the Masters. Since the two have been suspended, it means that this season’s Masters, Chinese players have been wiped out. Ding Junhui failed to qualify for the competition because his ranking was too low.
When the scandal was exposed, some fans discovered the match between Zhao Xintong and Yan Bingtao in last year’s German Masters final. In that moment the two played well and reached the final together. In the final, the performance of the two was not at the same level, and Zhao Xintong beat his opponent 9-0 to win. After the game, the two were all smiles, making the score on the field even more dazzling. Yan Bingtao is a player with excellent psychological qualities and a balance between attack and defense, he rarely got angry before. Now, there should be some answers to the doubts in the hearts of the fans.
Pool match fixing is common
This season, a total of 28 Chinese snooker players qualified as professional players. Even though ten of them were involved in the case, it was obvious that it wasn’t more than just a personal matter. English star Shaun Murphy (Shaun Murphy) said that snooker is a gentleman’s sport and cannot be spoiled by Chinese players. He suggested that Chinese players who cheated in match-fixing be banned for life.
Snooker has in fact always been known as an aristocratic sport, and it is also a very niche competitive event. However, the income of the competitors is not as glamorous as the outside world imagined. English star Ronnie O’Sullivan (Ronnie O’Sullivan) once said that due to the high cost of participation, the vast majority of players outside the world’s top 16 do not earn at all.
Internationally, due togambleThere are countless players who have been suspended, the most famous being “Wizard” Higgins (John Higgins). Back then, the young Higgins deliberately missed 4 matches and received a “huge” salary of 250,000 pounds, which was equivalent to a bonus for the world championship. However, because Higgins admitted his mistake with a good attitude, he was only suspended for six months and his career was not affected much.
Another English player, “Fatty” Stephen Lee (Stephen Lee), was not so lucky – he was banned for 12 years for match-fixing, which is equivalent to a life ban. He was awarded £970,000 for rigging seven games. You know, ‘Fatty’ has only won a total of £1.5million in bonuses in his 20 year career, and those seven match-fixing equals 2/3 of his career earnings. It can be seen that the temptation to match-fixing can actually make some people take risks.
Among Chinese billiard players, Ding Junhui has the most brilliant career. Although he has never won a world championship, he has won a total of 14 ranking championships, and his popularity is unmatched among other Chinese players. Today, Ding Junhui is an “Internet celebrity” with tens of millions of fans, whether it is live streaming or sponsorship, he has made a lot of money. It should be unlikely that Ding Junhui could make any money from match-fixing, which also made Chinese fans breathe a sigh of relief.
Responsible editor: Zheng Huang
