Snooker nice Steve Davis has described the continued investigation into alleged match-fixing as “embarrassing” for the game, and says any participant discovered responsible of the offence can have proven a “breathtaking level of stupidity”.
This 12 months’s Masters event obtained beneath approach at Alexandra Palace on Sunday with out Zhao Xintong and Yan Bingtao, who’re two of 10 Chinese gamers at the moment suspended from the tour pending the result of a probe by the game’s world governing physique, the WPBSA.
Three-time Masters champion Davis instructed BBC Sport: “If the allegations are proven to be true, it shows a breathtaking level of stupidity by these players, but this is still to be developed.
“It’s embarrassing. I think all the players are aware of the situation and fortunately the WPBSA is on top of it. What effect it has on the game, it’s hard to evaluate at the moment.”
Davis expressed fears that the allegations might have a destructive affect on the game in China, which has been frozen out of the tour since 2019 as a result of coronavirus pandemic.
Talks have been ongoing concerning the sport’s return to China in mild of not too long ago relaxed laws however such a transfer now seems to be in jeopardy.
“What effect it has in China is even harder to say,” added Davis. “It may have a detrimental effect on events 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 respectively.
