World Snooker Championship 2023: Zhao Xintong and Yan Bingtao to miss Crucible event ahead of match-fixing hearing
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Updated 02/03/2023 at 14:55 GMT
Disciplinary hearings for 10 Chinese players implicated in snooker's match fixing scandal are set to commence on April 24. In a statement, World Snooker Tour said that players charged would remain suspended and therefore miss the World Championship at the Crucible. Zhao Xintong and Yan Bingtao are the highest ranked players involved in the controversy.
Ferguson: WPBSA a ‘week or two’ away from understanding if charges pressed in match-fixing probe
Zhao Xintong and Yan Bingtao are set to miss the 2023 World Snooker Championship as their disciplinary hearings over alleged match-fixing begin.
Zhao, winner of the 2021 UK Championship, and 2021 Masters winner Yan are among 10 Chinese players facing charges.
World Snooker Tour confirmed in a statement that the players will remain suspended with the hearing set to commence on April 24.
“Sport Resolutions have appointed Ian Mill KC to chair the Independent Disciplinary Hearing for the 10 snooker players charged with serious breaches of the WPBSA Conduct Regulations. A date of April 24 2023 has been set for the start of the proceedings," the statement read.
"The players will remain suspended until the outcome of the Independent Disciplinary Hearing is published. They will therefore not participate in any remaining World Snooker Tour events during the 2022/23 season, including the 2023 World Snooker Championship.”
Zhao is currently ninth in the world rankings, while Yan is 19th.
Along with Zhao and Yan, Liang Wenbo, Li Hang, Lu Ning, Zhang Jiankang, Chen Zifan, Chang Bingyu, Zhao Jianbo and Bai Langning have also been charged in the match-fixing probe.
WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson has said if players are found guilty of the alleged breaches, then they could face a lifetime ban from the sport.
“Our rules are very clear in this," he stated in January. "It does say that for manipulation of the betting rules up to a lifetime ban can be received by a player from this tribunal.
“It is impossible for me to give an outcome. It is up to that independent sports tribunal to make that decision and we and both sides will have to abide by that decision.”
The 2023 World Snooker Championship begins on April 15 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
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