In the past decade China has been a rising powerhouse in the world of snooker. The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association has been trying to help the sport in China. China has more than 50 million players of snooker, making it one of the top snooker countries in the world. However, there has not been a Chinese world championship winner. As the sport grows more popular, it is predicted that Chinese snooker athletes will increase in number.
Chinese snooker champions are revered in China. Every tournament attracts thousands of spectators. They are treated like celebrities and get champagne receptions. The sport is becoming more popular and more players are coming up. Tian Pegfei (left) and Zhang Jiankang (right) are among the younger players.
Despite China having become the leading force in snooker over recent years, another scandal has rocked this sport. Former professional player Yu Delu was suspended on 1 December for match-fixing. Yu is currently on a 10-year ban. WPBSA are also investigating match-fixing allegations made for betting purposes.
Although there have not been any bans on specific players, they cast a shadow over this sport. Only 12 Chinese players are among the top 64 in the world. That number has been reduced to 11 after Zhao Xintong and Li Hang were added to the suspension list. Further, the CBSA is investigating whether Chang Bingyu and Lu Ning were involved match-fixing.
However, the biggest name in the investigation so far is Yan Bingtao, who is the 2021 Masters champion. He was scheduled to play in a World Snooker Tour event next month. After being drawn against Mark Williams in Round 1, he was disqualified. While he was expected to become the first Chinese player ever to win a championship in the world, his comment regarding the ongoing investigation is limited.
Zhao Xintong of China is also suspended from this year's World Snooker Tour. He was ranked world's No. 1 player earlier this year. He is widely regarded as one the most talented players in the sport. But now, he is being investigated as part of a global probe into match-fixing.
Former world number one Chinese player has been under investigation. Liang Wenbo, who had been suspended in October, was also under investigation. Numerous other Chinese athletes were also punished for alleged cheating. This is a relatively small number when compared to the many millions of people who have followed the sport across China.
Nevertheless, the fact that a large number of Chinese players are on the World Tour shows that the game is gaining widespread popularity in China. More tournaments are held in China.
But, China still has a long way to travel before they can match the success of the UK. With more tournaments being staged, more young Chinese players are making their way onto the professional snooker scene.
Zhao Xintong & Ding Junhui are currently the top-ranked Chinese players in the entire world. Ding has been awarded many ranking titles, and he is well-known in China. Ding expressed his desire to win the World Championship, even though he did not win a championship.