A massive cheating controversy has rocked the chess world inhina after the Chinese Xiangqi Association (CXA) handed three players lifebans and also penalised plenty, according to a report from the Global Times. (More Sports News)
The three players who received bans included grandmasters Zhao Xinxin, Zheng Weitong and Wang Yang. They were also stripped of their technical titles.
Apart from the three banned, 34 others were also suspended based on their gravity of the actions, while four have also been handed official reprimands.
Xiangqi, also called Chinese chess, is a centuries-old game, and a major part of the culture in the country.
"For over a decade, such illegal activities have been hampering the healthy development of the sport, resulting in the manipulation of match results, the unfair distribution of prize money, and control of player promotions," Deputy Director of Administrative Center and Disciplinary Committee Secretary Gai Hongyan was quoted as saying by China Daily.
For the unversed, Chinese chess also faced severe allegations of match-fixing, in September 2024, when Wang Tianyi and Wang Yuefei were handed lifetime bans for bribery.
Once a player has earned the grandmaster title, the tournament appearance fee and bonus for every tournament win will rise, encouraging others to take illegal steps.
