Stephen Hendry's hard-hitting verdict on any snooker player found guilty of match-fixing – 'Ruined their careers'
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ByEurosport
Updated 18/01/2023 at 19:44 GMT
Stephen Hendry believes some "talented" players could have risked their future in the game after the WPBSA charged 10 men in relation to its match-fixing probe on Wednesday. A list of wide-ranging charges have been laid against several players, which include the 2016 English Open winner Liang Wenbo, 2021 Masters champion Yan Bingtao and 2021 UK Championship winner Zhao Xintong.
Ferguson: WPBSA a ‘week or two’ away from understanding if charges pressed in match-fixing probe
Any snooker professional found guilty of match-fixing faces ending their respective careers in disgrace, according to seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry.
Hendry was reacting after it was announced on Wednesday that Liang Wenbo, Li Hang, Lu Ning, Yan Bingtao, Zhao Xintong, Zhang Jiankang, Chen Zifan, Chang Bingyu, Zhao Jianbo and Bai Langning "have a case to answer” after a huge corruption probe by the sport’s authorities.
Jason Ferguson – chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association – hopes an independent sports tribunal will reach a decision on alleged match-fixing in the sport in March.
“I think today’s information is what we would call clarity over where we are,” said Ferguson speaking to ITV at the World Grand Prix in Cheltenham.
“It is a heart-breaking situation for those of us who have been involved in the sport for a long time and worked to make it the great sport it is."
Hendry has offered his own thoughts on the potential gravity of the punishment facing any player caught up in the probe.
"For me, the sad part of all this is, if they are proven guilty, is that some very talented snooker players have ruined their careers," said the 36-time ranking event winner.
"They could have had lucrative earnings doing something that they love. So if they've thrown that away, if proven guilty, that is sad to me.
"Also the China factor. Obviously, I go to China a lot and they just love billiards sports. They love snooker.
"That is my concern that there might be some effect there, but I'm glad to hear Jason saying they are working together and snooker is going to go ahead in China.
"That is very important because it is a huge market for snooker.
"As a snooker fan, having watched some of these guys in the final stages..to me, it is stupidity. I can't believe it if it is proven."
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