Top Chinese chess stars receive lifetime bans for bribery, match-fixing

The Chinese Xiangqi Association on Thursday issued lifetime bans to two of the country's top-ranked players, Wang Tianyi and Wang Yuefei, citing violations including match-fixing and bribery.

The association, which governs the development of Xiangqi (Chinese chess) in China under the guidance of the General Administration of Sport, said both players had engaged in "buying and selling" games for a prolonged period and with high frequency, causing significant harm to the sport. Specific details of the violations were not disclosed.

In addition to banning them from all events organized or authorized by the association or its affiliates, the CXA also revoked their grandmaster titles. The association stated it is working with relevant authorities to further investigate the violations and ensure serious punishment.

Wang Tianyi, born in 1989, became the 16th national champion in 2012 and had held the top spot in the Chinese Xiangqi rankings for over a decade since 2014. Wang Yuefei, born in 1983, was runner-up in the 2010 national championships and earned his grandmaster title in 2013. Both players were teammates on the Hangzhou team in Zhejiang province, which won last year's Xiangqi league title.

Public suspicion arose in April 2023 when a recording surfaced online, allegedly of a conversation between Wang Yuefei and fellow grandmaster Hao Jichao, discussing match-fixing involving the two Wangs. The recording sparked widespread discussion among Xiangqi enthusiasts, though no official response was given at the time.

In June, The Economic Observer reported that Wang Tianyi was under police investigation in Hangzhou, and in August, it was reported that he had been arrested for alleged criminal violations, with the amount involved exceeding 800,000 yuan ($113,000). The police have yet to issue any statements regarding the case.