'Breathtaking stupidity' – Steve Davis offers no-nonsense view on snooker match-fixing allegations

ByEurosport

Published 08/01/2023 at 15:53 GMT

Steve Davis has offered a hard-hitting view on snooker's alleged match-fixing crisis. The six-time world champion believes any player involved in any form of cheating would damage the sport with the wider fall-out yet unknown. Davis was speaking at the outset of the 49th Masters in London with 10 players suspended by the WPBSA including leading Chinese men Zhao Xintong and Yan Bingtao.

Any snooker player found guilty of match-fixing would be guilty of "breathtaking stupidity" in jeopardising their respective careers, according to the six-time world champion Steve Davis.

Speaking to the BBC ahead of the 49th Masters at London's Alexandra Palace, Davis did not hold back amid a WPBSA probe that sees 10 players – including former Masters winner Yan Bingtao and UK holder Zhao Xintong – suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson told Eurosport that the sport's governing body is “a week or two” away from understanding whether charges will be brought against the players.

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“If the allegations are proven to be true, it shows a breathtaking level of stupidity by these players, but this is still to be developed," said Davis.

“What effect it has on the game, it’s hard to evaluate at the moment."

With events in mainland China missing from the snooker calendar since the global pandemic disrupted world sport in 2020, Davis is unsure what impact the outcome of the investigation could have on snooker.

Ferguson: WPBSA a ‘week or two’ away from understanding if charges pressed in match-fixing probe

“What effect it has in China is even harder to say,” he said. “It may have a detrimental effect on events over there – let’s hope not.”

• Masters 2023 - Latest scores, results, schedule, order of play
• Ferguson: WPBSA a ‘week or two away' from understanding if charges pressed in match-fixing probe

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