In this file photo dated Jan 15, 2018, Liang Wenbo of China hits the ball during the first round match with Judd Trump of England (not in photograph) at Snooker Masters 2018 at the Alexandra Palace in London, Britain. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

LONDON - Chinese snooker players Liang Wenbo and Li Hang have been handed lifetime bans as part of a group of 10 players penalized by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) on Tuesday for match-fixing.

The WPBSA issued a statement on Tuesday, confirming that the ten players were charged with match-fixing offenses. It pronounced lifetime bans for Liang and Li and imposed significant suspensions for the other players involved.

Liang, 36, who has been under suspension from snooker events since last October, was found guilty of manipulating or participating in the manipulation of five snooker matches, attempting to persuade or enable other players to fix nine matches. He also bet on snooker matches and failed to cooperate with the WPBSA investigation.

In this file photo dated Nov 26, 2019, Li Hang of China takes a shot during his 2019 UK Championship first round match against Jamie Clarke of Wales (not in photograph) in York. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

Li, 32, was also charged with match-fixing and inciting or facilitating other players to manipulate match outcomes.

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Liang Wenbo, 36, who has been under suspension from snooker events since last October, was found guilty of manipulating or participating in the manipulation of five snooker matches, attempting to persuade or enable other players to fix nine matches

Additionally, the 2021 Master champion Yan Bingtao has been handed a five-year ban until 11 Dec, 2027. Zhao Xintong, with two ranking titles to his name, received a suspension of one year and eight months, set to expire on 1 Sept, 2024.

"This has been a very complex case. It has been heartbreaking to see some young talented players fall foul of the WPBSA Conduct Regulations through pressure exerted by two senior players," said WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson. "This behavior has been recognized as wholly unacceptable by the imposition of two lifetime bans from participating in recognized snooker in any way."

Zhao, 26, issued an apology on his social media account. "I have been thoroughly regretting my ignorance and silliness since being suspended a few months ago. I feel ashamed as I disappointed everybody by making a mistake. I just want to say sorry to everyone."

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Zhao insisted that he had never fixed any match or even contemplated match-fixing, but he failed to refuse a friend's request to assist with betting. "I didn't make any profit from it, but I paid a heavy price for my foolishness."

In the wake of the penalties, the Chinese Snooker Association (CSA) has pledged to mete out severe punishments to the involved players.

"The association has been redoubling efforts to eliminate match-fixing activities and safeguard the integrity of the game, consistent with the association's zero-tolerance policy on match-fixing," the CSA conveyed in a statement on Wednesday.

According to the CSA, it has given significant consideration to the match-fixing activities involving Chinese players and will impose stringent penalties on the guilty parties, relying on the investigation conducted by the WPBSA.

The CSA assured that it would amplify cooperation with international associations and increase surveillance on players competing abroad to preempt match-fixing in the future.

The association also recommitted to its fight against match-fixing in domestic competitions, vowing to use recent cases as a stern warning for all those concerned.