Ten Chinese players, including two that had been due to play in the Masters which starts on Sunday, have been suspended as part of the match-fixing inquiry.
A decision on whether charges will be brought is expected in the coming weeks.
So how did we get here? What happens next? And what does it mean for the sport?
An investigation is looking into “allegations of manipulating the outcome of matches for betting purposes”.
It was started last year by the integrity unit at the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA).
The sport monitors betting worldwide on snooker and gets alerts from the betting industry on suspicious activity.
In October 2022, Liang Wenbo was the first player suspended as part of the WPBSA investigation – over unspecified misconduct claims – and nine others have since been suspended.
Most of the players – several of whom were based in Sheffield – have not commented publicly on the allegations, although Wenbo has reportedly denied match-fixing.
The inquiry is described as being at “an advanced stage” and further suspensions are not anticipated, although the situation is fluid.
A decision must be made whether to bring charges against any or all of the players.
If there are charges, the cases will be heard by an independent panel, chaired by a senior barrister.
The panel will give verdicts and any sanctions, which players will have the right to appeal against.
In the interim, two suspended top-16 players will miss the Masters – former champion Yan Bingtao has been replaced by David Gilbert, while 2021 UK Championship winner Zhao Xintong’s spot has gone to Hossein Vafaei.
Speaking generally on the issue of match-fixing, former world champion Shaun Murphy said cheats should be banned for life.
“If players are found guilty of fixing the outcomes of matches, those players have no place in the game of snooker,” he told BBC Sport.
“If it were up to me, you would never see cheats again. Without that threat of never playing again, people behind match-fixers will always see an opportunity to exploit the game.
“Without the threat of a lifetime ban, I don’t see this problem going away.”
While life bans are the maximum penalty within snooker’s rules, enforcing them is complicated.
WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson has said he believes such punishments could be challenged in court.
It is thought they would also limit the chances of people admitting offences, or providing further information.
In 2018, China’s Yu Delu was banned from snooker for 10 years and nine months after a major match-fixing inquiry.
His compatriot Cao Yupeng also pleaded guilty to fixing and was banned for six years, though three and a half years of his sentence were suspended.
In that case, 38 betting accounts using sophisticated computer software attempted to place a total of £250,000 in one second on the result of a Cao match.
The attempted coup, which could have netted a profit of £1m, failed after alarm bells rang with Asian-based bookies whose own computer programs raised suspicions.
This is not solely an issue with Chinese players. Englishman Stephen Lee – the former world number five – was banned for 12 years in 2013 after being found guilty of seven match-fixing charges.
Lee, who has always denied the offences, could potentially return in October next year when his ban finishes, though he would then be aged 50 and would have to repay £125,000 inLee, who has always denied the offences, could potentially return in October next year when his ban finishes, though he would then be aged 50 and would have to repay £125,000 in outstanding legal fees.
