China's Zhao Xintong, Zhang Jiankang suspended over match-fixing
There are currently 10 Chinese players that have been suspended
Zhao Xintong, who won the 2021 UK Championship, and his fellow countryman Zhang Jiankang are the most recent Chinese players to receive a suspension from the World Snooker Tour.
As part of a match-fixing inquiry, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) has penalised the players.
Zhao was scheduled to take against Mark Selby, a four-time world champion, in the opening round of the Masters on Sunday.
There are currently 10 Chinese players that have been suspended.
Zhao and Zhang each have the option to challenge the judgement.
The sport's global governing organisation, the WPBSA, stated in a statement that the overall investigation "was at an advanced level" and that any potential charges "will be considered" after it is finished.
Zhao won his first ranking title after defeating Luca Brecel 10-5 in York to win the 2021 UK Championship.
As the fourth non-British winner of the competition, he was competing in his maiden final.
Liang Wenbo was suspended in October pending the findings of a misconduct investigation.
Early in December, suspensions were issued for five further players: Chang Bingyu, Lu Ning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo, and Bai Langning.
Yan Bingtao, the 2021 Masters champion, was the seventh Chinese player to receive a suspension; Chen Zifan was the next.
Comments