Yan Bingtao and Zhao Xintong among 10 players charged in snooker fixing probe
Former Masters champion Yan Bingtao is among six Chinese players charged with match-fixing.
And all 10 of the Chinese players currently suspended have been charged by the WPBSA after the biggest investigation into corruption in snooker history.
The other players charged with fixing a match or matches are Lu Ning, Zhang Jiankang, Chen Zifan, Chang Bingyu and Zhao Jianbo.
Former UK Championship winner and world No.9 Zhao Xintong, 25, has been charged with being concerned with fixing matches, and betting on snooker.
It is the charges for Zhao and 22-year-old Yan, the world No.16, that will be the most shocking – two players seen as a huge part of the game’s future.
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Former English Open winner Liang Wenbo has been charged with approaching players to fix matches, being concerned with fixing matches, and seeking to obstruct the investigation. Li Hang faces those same counts.
An independent disciplinary tribunal will now be set up - likely to be in March over two weeks.
And with verdicts to be arrived at, sanctions for anyone found guilty and possible appeals, there is now a good chance the affair will roll over into the World Championships at the Crucible in April.
The probe has already led to the governing bodies looking at strengthening their induction and education programme for new and existing pros, and also how the UK- based academies can identify and stamp out such activity.
The full list of charges appeared in a WPBSA statement, which read: "Following a detailed investigation by the WPBSA Integrity Unit, working closely with Sportradar, the WPBSA has decided that ten snooker players have a case to answer in respect of the following alleged breaches of the WPBSA Conduct Regulations.
Xintong is also among those charged (PA)"Liang Wenbo has been charged with being concerned in fixing matches and approaching players to fix matches on the World Snooker Tour, seeking to obstruct the investigation and failing to cooperate with the WPBSA investigation.
"Li Hang has been charged with being concerned in fixing matches and approaching players to fix matches on the World Snooker Tour, seeking to obstruct the investigation and betting on snooker matches.
"Lu Ning has been charged with fixing a match and being concerned in fixing matches and approaching a player to fix a match on the World Snooker Tour, seeking to obstruct the investigation and betting on snooker matches.
"Yan Bingtao has been charged with fixing matches on the World Snooker Tour and betting on snooker.
"Zhao Xintong has been charged with being concerned in fixing matches on the World Snooker Tour and betting on snooker.
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Liang Wenbo is another big name who finds himself in hot water (Getty Images)"Zhang Jiankang has been charged with fixing a match on the World Snooker Tour, failing to report approaches for him to fix matches and betting on snooker matches.
"Chen Zifan has been charged with fixing matches on the World Snooker Tour.
"Chang Bingyu and Zhao Jianbo have each been charged with fixing a match on the World Snooker Tour
"Bai Langning has been charged with being concerned in fixing a match on the World Snooker Tour.
"The players are currently suspended from attending and competing on the World Snooker Tour and in other WPBSA governed events until the conclusion of the hearing or hearings and the determination of this matter.
"This matter will be referred to a formal hearing before an Independent Disciplinary Tribunal that will take place at a venue and on a date to be confirmed."
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