Former UK champion Zhao Xintong and Zhang Jiankang have joined the list of players suspended from the World Snooker Tour during an investigation into alleged match-fixing.

Zhao, who beat Luca Brecel to win the 2021 UK Championship title, and Zhang, the world number 82, have been banned from attending or competing on the Tour with immediate effect.

Former Masters champion Yan Bingtao and seven other Chinese players have already been suspended by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA).

A WPBSA statement read: “This decision is part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of manipulating the outcome of matches for betting purposes in breach of the WPBSA Conduct Regulations.