Yan Bingtao: Former Masters champion suspended as part of match-fixing investigation
- Published
Yan Bingtao won the Masters on his debut in 2021 aged 20
Former Masters champion Yan Bingtao has been suspended from the World Snooker Tour as part of an ongoing investigation into match-fixing.
China's Yan, the world number 16, was due to play on Monday at the English Open in Brentwood, but his suspension has been imposed after allegations of manipulating the outcome of matches for betting purposes.
The 22-year-old's ban will remain in place until the outcome of the investigation.
Last week, five Chinese players were handed suspensions by snooker's governing body, the WPBSA.
Lu Ning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning and Chang Bingyu were all suspended, while compatriot Liang Wenbo was banned on 27 October pending the results of a misconduct investigation.
"Obviously, it's not a great look this morning but let's not put that in the way of this great sport that goes all over the world," WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson told BBC Essex, external.
"We really are making huge progress and the sport is played in the best of spirits 99.99% of the time.
"Unfortunately, this morning there was a strong decision to suspend Yan Bingtao as a result of new evidence that came to light in an ongoing enquiry, which started in October with the suspension of Liang Wenbo.
"It involves a few players and those players will remain suspended. We will not have any concerns over the sport being played in the arena. People are buying tickets and TV rights and watching our sport all over the world.
"It will be played in the spirit it should be played and we'll ensure that, hence these suspensions."
Former world champion Neil Robertson added, external: "I'm quite shocked. His name was on the board to play the earlier session and then it was taken down."
Yan, who became the youngest Masters champion in 26 years when he beat John Higgins in the 2021 final, has the right to appeal against the decision.
He was due to play Mark Williams in the first round of the 2023 Masters at London's Alexandra Palace next month, but will likely now not feature and be replaced in the draw.
Analysis
BBC Sport's Jamie Broughton
Yan Bingtao is the highest profile player to be suspended as part of this investigation.
The world number 16 was due to play in the Masters next month, a tournament he won in 2021, and has been talked about as being a future world champion in the making.
Snooker legend Jimmy White has called Yan's suspension "a really bad day for snooker", and having a total of seven Chinese players suspended isn't the headlines the sport wants to make.
But the WPBSA, which investigates compliance issues, would argue it has a very strong track record over the past decade when it comes to investigating such cases and punishing anyone found to have acted wrongly.
From old pick-ups to the fastest car on the planet: Top Gear tests a full range of vehicles
She scammed the world, then vanished: The 'Cryptoqueen' who persuaded millions to join her financial revolution
