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Ding Junhui accepts $3,255 fine for not reporting illness

By Liu Shanshan (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-04-13 19:01

This photo of a screen grab from WPBSA's official website shows an announcement of Ding Junhui's fine, April 13, 2011. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Chinese snooker ace Ding Junhui has been fined ￡2,000 ($3,255.70) for his alleged passive attitude in a match that he lost 0-4 to his Chinese counterpart Liang Wenbo last year.

Ding was reported as not having competed at his best form and finally beaten by Liang at a Euro Players Tour Championship event in Russelheim, Germany, on Oct 23, 2010, according to the official website of the sport's world governing body.

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The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) launched an investigation following a report from the German tournament organizers and later confirmed Ding's fine for not notifying them of his sick condition, which resulted in his bad performance.

The world No 3 player responded promptly after the fine announcement, saying he accepted the fine and apologized for his performance.

Ding's agent Zhang Meng explained that Ding didn't behave passively but insisted on finishing the game, "He was suffering from a stomachache that day, but he didn't want to disappoint fans and decided not to report his illness."

But the WPBSA said Ding's decision to continue playing "not only impacts his reputation but also that of the sport," and it should become a warning to all players in the future.

Chinese snooker Ding Junhui reacts during a China Open snooker game in Beijing, April 1, 2011. [Photo/Xinhua]