The Chinese Xiangqi Association (CXA) announced new disciplinary sanctions on the morning of 13/4, marking the third round of penalties since a widespread match-fixing scandal came to light. This represents the largest purge in the country's Xiangqi history, as numerous top players have been barred from professional competition.

According to the 13/4 announcement, the three individuals receiving the heaviest penalties are Hong Zhi, Xie Jing, and Xu Chao. All have been banned for life and stripped of their technical titles awarded by the CXA. This means they will permanently lose the opportunity to participate in any tournaments or activities organized by the association or its member units. The penalties for these three players are not surprising, as they are currently imprisoned for match-fixing.

Hong Zhi won the national championship in 2005 and has been a top player for the past two decades. Xie Jing rose to prominence early, claiming the national title in 2013 and is considered the last successor of the legend Hu Ronghua. Xu Chao was the champion in 2017, having defeated many strong opponents to reach the pinnacle.

Beyond these three champions, the CXA also issued penalties to three other players with less severe sanctions. Shen Peng received an 8-year ban from July 2024 to July 2032, along with the revocation of his technical title. Jiang Chuan, a prominent figure in contemporary Chinese Xiangqi, received a 5-year ban, extending until July 2029. Meanwhile, Xu Chongfeng was suspended for 2 years.

Xiangqi champion and former Chinese number one, Jiang Chuan. *Photo: Baidu*

Jiang Chuan garnered particular attention for having played and defeated Vietnam's number one player, Lai Ly Huynh, in an exhibition match. Born in 1984 in Wenzhou, Jiang Chuan won the Chinese individual championship in 2010, becoming the country's 14th Xiangqi champion. A year later, he won the world championship with an undefeated record (7 wins, 2 draws). For many years, Jiang Chuan also consistently topped the domestic Elo rankings, an achievement that champions like Zheng Weitong, Hong Zhi, or Zhao XinXin had never accomplished.

Based on documents transferred by police and judicial authorities, the CXA confirmed that many players had participated in match-fixing through giving and receiving bribes. These actions severely damaged the development of Xiangqi, forcing the governing body to implement strict disciplinary measures to restore order.

The match-fixing scandal had been simmering for years. In April 2023, an audio recording circulated online, revealing two players discussing match arrangements. By October of the same year, prominent players like Liu Dahua and Dang Fei publicly spoke out, demanding a thorough investigation into negative signs within the Xiangqi community.

The first round of penalties was announced on 19/9/2024, when "Xiangqi King" Wang Tianyi and Grandmaster Wang Yuefei were banned for life. The second round saw 41 Xiangqi masters punished on 12/1/2025. From 2024 to 2025, the CXA announced two lists of sanctions, including major names like Zhao XinXin, Zheng Weitong, and Wang Tianyi, all of whom received lifetime bans and were imprisoned.

Many players paid opponents to concede in crucial matches to improve their performance, accumulate points, or win titles. Conversely, others accepted money to intentionally lose, creating a complex, years-long network of fixed matches. Some incidents even occurred at prestigious tournaments, including the national individual championship.

By Xuan Binh