Two Chinese Chess Stars Banned for Life over Match-Fixing

The Chinese Xiangqi Association (CXA) has handed down lifetime bans to two of the game’s elite players, Wang Tianyi and Wang Yuefei, for match-fixing and accepting bribes.

The two players have been stripped of their Grandmaster titles in Chinese chess.

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The two players' permanent explusion from the game came after an investigation conducted by CXA reportedly uncovered substantial evidence of game manipulation, bribery, and other serious ethical violations perpetuated by them. Tianyi and Yuefi allegedly bought and sold games over an extended period. However, details regarding the dates and matches involved in the alleged match-fixing remain undisclosed.

As a result of the match-fixing scandal, both players have been banned from all CXA-sanctioned events and stripped of their Grandmaster titles in Chinese chess.

According to the CXA, its investigation is ongoing as it works closely with the General Administration of Sport and relevant authorities to prosecute the two players fully.

Born in 1989, Wang Tianyi has had an illustrious tennis career spanning over a decade. He became the 16th national Xiangqi champion in 2012 and has maintained his position as China’s top-ranked player since 2014.

Meanwhile, Wang Yuefei secured runner-up in the 2010 national championships and earned his grandmaster title in 2013. Both players were part of the Hangzhou team from Zhejiang province, which won the Xiangqi championship league title in 2023.

More Regulation News

Wave of Corruption in Chinese Sports

The CXA bans come amidst a wave of match-fixing allegations sweeping through China. Earlier this month, the country’s public security department revealed that its efforts to combat corruption in Chinese soccer have led to the arrest of 128 individuals since 2022 for offenses related to gambling, match-fixing, and bribery linked to 120 domestic matches.

According to CFA president Song Kai, 43 ex-players and club officials have been found guilty of match-fixing and gambling and have been banned for life from participating in any football-related activities within China.

The widespread corruption and match-fixing scandal regarding the league led to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) suspending Chinese soccer betting indefinitely.

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