Liang Wenbo was tipped for a bright future in but was permanently ousted from the sport after being found guilty of multiple match-fixing offences. The former star, 38, was suspended as part of alongside nine other Chinese players in 2022.

The likes of Yan Bingtao, Chen Zifan, Zhang Jiankang, Bai Langning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo and Chang Bingyu were the other players banned, as well as 2025 finalist Zhao Xintong. The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) handed suspensions ranging from 20 months to five years and four months to eight players, but , who were slapped with lifetime bans from snooker.

Liang first exploded onto the scene in 2008 when he made a surprise run to the quarter-finals of the World Championships, where he faced Ronnie O'Sullivan and lost 13-7. He earned one ranking title during his career, which came at the English Open in 2016 when he defeated Judd Trump.

But his career was cut short due to allegations of fixing or being involved in fixing five snooker matches between July and September 2022, which he was later deemed guilty of. He was also found to have encouraged fellow players to fix nine matches as well as breaking further rules by placing bets on matches.

Liang - who achieved a career-high world ranking of No. 11 in 2016 - was ranked No. 72 when his ban was imposed. It was further discovered that he'd threatended another player and failed to cooperate with the ranking body's investigation, while deleting messages from his phone.

"This has been a very complex case," WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson said. "It has been heartbreaking to see some young talented players fall foul of the WPBSA conduct regulations through pressure exerted by two senior players.

"This behaviour has been recognised as wholly unacceptable by the imposition of two lifetime bans from participating in recognised snooker in any way. Those who try to corrupt sport are constantly trying to find new ways to avoid our monitoring processes and this outcome must be taken as a lesson to those who think they can avoid detection.

"If any player is involved in fixing a snooker match, they will be caught and will face severe penalties. I am pleased that the commission found that they did not see from the present case 'any evidence of a wider culture of wrongdoing in snooker'.

The WPBSA will continue its strong stance against those who try to manipulate sport and today's outcome sends out a clear message that match fixing will not be tolerated in snooker."

Zhao - who is currently leading Mark Williams in the Crucible finale - was able to return to snooker in September 2024 after serving a 20-month sentence. While the Chinese ace was not found guilty of directly throwing a match, he accepted charges of being party to a fellow player fixing two matches while personally betting on matches.

He was also ordered to pay £7,500 in costs. Zhao earned his first ranking title and first Triple Crown title at the 2021 UK Championship when he defeated Luca Brecel 10-5 in the final. His second came at the 2022 German Masters when he defeated fellow Chinese player Yan Bingtao.