After stating he had been offered money to fix a match during his playing career, the late Willie Thorne referred to match-fixing in snooker as “endemic” more than a decade ago. As indicated by Thorne’s assertions and the suspensions of Stephen Lee and John Higgins in recent years, allegations of wrongdoing on the green are nothing new. Snooker has demonstrated that it can be difficult when it matters.
In response to Higgins’ suspension in 2010 for violating betting regulations — the then-world number one was exonerated of match-fixing but found guilty of lesser crimes – the sport established an integrity unit to combat corruption.
However, snooker is in the throes of a new crisis on the eve of its most renowned invitational tournament.
The Masters, one of snooker’s triple crown tournaments, begins under a cloudy sky in London on Sunday. As an investigation into allegations of match-fixing continues, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) has suspended ten Chinese players. On Tuesday, the ninth-ranked player in the world, Zhao Xintong, joined this list.
Yan Bingtao, the 2021 Masters champion, and Zhao have been eliminated from the draw, along with eight other Chinese professionals. Zhang Jiankang, Liang Wenbo, Lu Ning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianming, Bai Langming, Chang Bingyu, and Chen Zifan.
At present, the charges are merely allegations, but the image this portrays of snooker’s elite level is far from healthy. One player under investigation would be cause for concern. Ten? This puts a shadow on the sport perhaps unlike ever before.
Masters snooker begins with suspensions
Shaun Murphy, the No. 11 player in the world, deems the news extremely disappointing and distressing. “The vast majority of players wish to exit the sport in better form than when they entered it.
“Any players found guilty have lost the faith of everyone: their teammates, the league’s administrators, and most crucially, the fans. They are individuals with whom you have held hands before games, and they have betrayed you. That leaves an empty feeling.”
Nonetheless, considering the sport’s rise in China over the past decade, this latest scandal has the potential to cause far more long-term harm. Hundreds of millions of Chinese watch the world championship final. And the game’s popularity has grown there since the emergence of Ding Junhui as a teenage phenomenon.
Before the pandemic, professional players made frequent trips to China to play in front of enormous crowds. And the number of Chinese players on the World Tour demonstrates the country’s potential for visibility and money.
Lifetime bans for cheaters
As a result of the severe lockdown measures, professional snooker has not been played in China since the start of the pandemic. However, there were hopes that this year would mark the return of snooker to east Asia due to China’s easing of its restrictions. This inquiry raises questions about that.
Murphy says, “This might cause significant harm to the sport and have a domino effect on the reintroduction into China.” “We have been excitedly awaiting the return of Chinese tournaments. And as soon as things begin to lighten up, this issue has emerged.
The harm that athletes who are found guilty cause to this sport are terrifying. We won’t know its true scope for quite some time.”
Great deal of focus on the investigation
The WPBSA stated this week that its investigation has reached an “advanced stage”. And will soon be concluded before potential charges are considered. None of the ten players suspended have reacted publicly on the charges. But Lee’s 12-year sentence, which he is still serving, demonstrates that snooker is not hesitant to punish match-fixers severely.
Murphy asserts, “Lifetime bans for cheaters are supported by a large number of individuals. But I believe they are probably unattainable under the law.”
Throughout the Masters, there will surely be a great deal of focus on the investigation, penalties, and potential consequences for any guilty players. Murphy continues to hold out hope that people present at the Alexandra Palace can shed a positive light on the game.
“It’s the largest invitational event in the sport, and a terrific chance to put on a show,” he explains. “Unfortunately, 10 professionals have been suspended over these charges, but 16 of us can flip the tide. I am proud of how my sport has handled this situation. We have not swept it under the rug; we have been courageous and powerful, and that is commendable.”
