Yan Bingtao becomes 7th Chinese snooker player to be suspended under match-fixing probe

World Snooker Tour announcement follows suspensions of five Chinese players last week and Liang Wenbo in October

‘This decision is part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of manipulating the outcome of matches for betting purposes,’ governing body says

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Yan Bingtao is already a Masters winner and has been tipped to be a future world champion. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 10:49am, 13 Dec 2022Updated: 11:31am, 13 Dec 2022

China’s Yan Bingtao has become the latest player to be suspended by snooker’s governing body in relation to an ongoing investigation into match-fixing.

His suspension from the World Snooker Tour, announced by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), follows those handed previously to six other Chinese players.

Yan, 22, is the biggest name to be investigated so far. Tipped to become China’s first world champion, he won the Masters in 2021 and was set to play in that tournament next month, having been drawn against Mark Williams in the first round. His participation must now be in doubt.

Ranked No 16 in the world, Yan had been due to play on Monday at the English Open, but his first-round opponent Ashley Hugill was awarded a walkover.

“WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson has taken the decision to suspend Yan Bingtao from attending or competing on the World Snooker Tour with immediate effect,” a statement issued by the governing body read.