Chang Bingyu has reportedly spoken out about his recent suspension from snooker, suggesting Liang Wenbo coerced him into match-fixing and lying.
The 20 year-old was suspended by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association on Friday along with four other Chinese players – Lu Ning, Li Hang, Bai Langning, and Zhao Jianbo.
The announcement from the governing body comes just a couple of months after former English Open champion Liang received a similar suspension for allegations of misconduct.
Now Chang has apparently come out with a share-all post on Chinese microblogging website Weibo, in which he has indicated that Liang threatened him.
In a now deleted post that has been translated into English, Chang Bingyu said: “On the morning of the start of the game, Liang Wenbo called me in a threatening tone, saying he was in my game against Jamie Jones.”
“I was afraid that he had bet so much money. If I didn’t agree, he would make trouble for me, so I had no choice but to agree. I was very scared.
- CLICK HERE: Five players from China suspended from snooker
“No matter what the reason is for the match-fixing, it is my mistake, and I will actively cooperate with the investigation.
“I can accept my punishment, but I was really scared at the time. I didn’t receive any money.”
In the lengthy post, Chang also appeared to suggest that Liang threatened him to keep quiet as soon as the investigation had begun.
Chang gained professional status to compete on the World Snooker Tour in 2019 after topping the Chinese amateur rankings that year.
He reached the last 32 of the British Open in September, when the game in question against Welshman Jones occurred.
Chang Bingyu today published a statement on weibo. He claimed that he was threatend by Liang to lose to Jamie Jones in British Open with the scoreline of 1-4. Liang insisted Chang to lie when the investigation started, but Chang chose to tell WPBSA everything. https://t.co/QwOe56YAYM pic.twitter.com/MEPCXzJUXa
— sinosports (@sinosportsCHN) December 10, 2022
On Friday, the WPBSA released its statement regarding the suspension of the five players.
“WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson has taken the decision to suspend Lu Ning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning and Chang Bingyu from attending or competing on the World Snooker Tour with immediate effect,” it said.
“This follows the suspension of Liang Wenbo on 27 October 2022 and a subsequent investigation which remains ongoing into allegations of manipulating the outcome of matches for betting purposes in breach of the WPBSA Conduct Regulations.”
“The suspensions of all six players will remain in place until the conclusion of the investigation or any subsequent charges that may or may not be brought. These players have the right to appeal this decision.
“The investigation remains ongoing, and no further comment will be made until the investigation is complete.”
Earlier this year, Liang was handed a different four-month suspension following a previous conviction for a domestic-related assault.
Featured photo credit: WST
