Snooker match-fixing: Steve Davis says probe ‘embarrassing’ for the game

Snooker nice Steve Davis has labelled the continuing investigation into alleged match-fixing as “embarrassing” for the game whereas elevating issues about what it may do to the expansion of the sport in China.

However the six-time world champion harassed anybody discovered to have engaged in fixing could be responsible of a “breathtaking degree of stupidity”.

This yr’s version of the Masters, considered one of snooker’s main tournaments, began in London on Sunday with out Zhao Xintong and Yan Bingtao - two of 10 Chinese language gamers suspended pending the result of a probe by World Skilled Billiards and Snooker Affiliation, the game’s world governing physique.

Three-time Masters champion Davis advised the BBC, “If the allegations are confirmed to be true, it reveals a wide ranging degree of stupidity by these gamers, however that is nonetheless to be developed.”

The 65-year-old Englishman added, “It’s embarrassing. I feel all of the gamers are conscious of the state of affairs and thankfully the WPBSA is on high of it. What impact it has on the sport, it’s arduous to judge in the meanwhile.”

China has lengthy been seen as a rustic with big progress potential for snooker, a sport historically dominated by gamers from Britain and Eire.

However China has not staged a significant snooker competitors since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic and plans to return there for a World Snooker Tour occasion could now be placed on maintain throughout the investigation.

“What impact it has in China is even tougher to say,” mentioned Davis. “It could have a detrimental impact on occasions over there - let’s hope not.”

Following their suspensions, Yan and Zhao have been changed within the 16-strong Masters draw by David Gilbert and Hossein Vafaei.

Zhao, who beat Luca Brecel to win the 2021 UK Championship title, and Zhang Jiankang, the world quantity 82, have been banned from attending or competing on the Tour with fast impact, it was introduced on Tuesday.

Former Masters champion Yan and 7 different Chinese language gamers had already been suspended by the WPBSA.

Lu Ning, Li Cling, Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning, Chang Bingyu, Yan Bingtao and Chen Zifan have been all suspended in December after world quantity 56 Liang Wenbo grew to become the primary Chinese language participant to be suspended as a part of the investigation in October.