China’s sports world continues to be shaken by ongoing controversies. The latest news indicates that Wang Tianyi, often hailed as the “number one player” in Chinese chess, was taken away for investigation by the Hangzhou police in Zhejiang several months ago. A previous scandal known as the “audio recording gate” rocked the Chinese chess community, implicating Wang Tianyi.
At 35 years old, Wang Tianyi is a professional master of Chinese chess, a member of the Chinese national team, a national champion, an Asian champion, and a world runner-up. He held the top ranking among Chinese chess players for eleven consecutive years.
On June 26th, the Economic Observer reported that from June 10th to June 26th, several informed sources confirmed that Wang Tianyi had been under investigation by the Hangzhou police in Zhejiang for allegedly accepting bribes as a non-state employee.
Born on April 23, 1989, Wang Tianyi won the Chinese Youth Championship in 2001, 2003, and 2005, and achieved the title of chess master in 2005. In 2008, he was admitted to Peking University to study Information Management due to his chess expertise.
In October 2012, Wang Tianyi became the champion of the National Chess Individual Tournament and was promoted to a super grandmaster. In 2014, he reached the top ranking among chess players in China and held this position for eleven consecutive years. In March 2018, he joined the Hangzhou branch of the Chinese Chess Academy, claiming to have been upgraded from a contract worker to a formal employee.
The Hangzhou branch of the Chinese Chess Academy, approved by the General Administration of Sport’s National Chess and Card Sports Management Center in 2004, is the only domestic branch of the Chinese Chess Academy, overseeing professional teams in Go, Chinese chess, and international chess.
In 2023, Wang Tianyi’s rating reached 2800 points, earning him the title of the current top player in Chinese chess.
In September 2023, a leaked phone recording between Chinese chess professional player Hao Jichao and another chess star revealed cheating with computer software during matches. In the “audio recording gate” scandal, Wang Tianyi was also exposed for using computer software to cheat in matches. Additionally, he operated multiple fake chess accounts online, sold his game records and tutorial videos, collaborated with other players for gambling, and made significant illegal profits.
In October 2023, Lui Dahua, a 73-year-old super grandmaster of Chinese chess known as the “Chess King,” officially accused Guo Liping, the deputy director of the National Chess and Card Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport, of long-term involvement in shielding and accommodating corrupt forces in the Chinese chess community. He alleged that Guo manipulated the outcomes and prize distributions of various major domestic chess competitions, tarnishing Chinese chess – a cultural gem of the Chinese nation – as a tool for a small group of chess community outcasts to trade victories, accept bribes, and profit.
Lui Dahua’s report caused a significant stir, with many chess enthusiasts speculating that it involved accusations against Wang Tianyi. However, Lui Dahua clarified that he did not mention or accuse Wang Tianyi.
According to reports from the Economic Observer, a veteran figure in the chess community stated that Wang Tianyi had not been seen in public activities since April 24, 2024. He did not make any public appearances on his daily-signed video streaming platforms.
Several informed sources revealed that Wang Tianyi was investigated by the Hangzhou police’s economic investigation department on April 23 and that Lui Dahua’s report served as one of the catalysts for this investigation. Wang Tianyi is suspected of accepting bribes as a non-state employee.
Responding to the Economic Observer on June 25, Guo Liping stated that she had been transferred from the National Chess and Card Sports Management Center of the General Administration of Sport and was not aware of the investigation into Wang Tianyi. Regarding Lui Dahua’s allegations, she declined to comment.
From May to June, Guo Liping, in her capacity as the deputy director of the National Administration of Fitness Qigong Center, attended several public events.
On social media, netizens discussed fervently: “The General Administration of Sport ought to be thoroughly investigated.” “Sports have become a tool for profit – if Chinese chess falls, what else do we have?” “The main issues are match-fixing, cheating as a group, involving huge amounts of money.” “In such a system, even good people are forced to compromise.” “The roots are rotten – they seem lush, but the core has long been devoured by parasites.”
The corruption in the Chinese Communist Party’s sports sector has been prevalent for a long time. In November last year, a new wave of anti-corruption “storm” swept through the sports industry, leading to the downfall of many high-ranking sports officials including former Chinese Rowing Association Chairman Liu Aijie, former Soccer Association Chairman Chen Xuyuan, the Deputy Director of the General Administration of Sports Du Zhaocai, former Vice Chairman of the Soccer Association Yu Hongchen, chairman of Chinese Super League Company Liu Jun, and former director of the General Administration of Sport Gou Zhongwen, among many others.
Hundreds of coaches, football club officials, and players were also arrested.
Canadian basketball coach Ju Bin told Epoch Times that the sports sector is completely corrupt, with rampant behind-the-scenes maneuvers. There is not a single clean project, with everyone chasing fame and profit; a deeper investigation would find no one innocent.
He further expressed that under the communist regime’s all-encompassing system, Chinese sports have long been reduced to a tool for interest groups to pursue political achievements and personal gains. From players to referees, agents, and high-ranking sports officials, corruption exists at all levels. Despite efforts to reform the sports system over several decades, match-fixing, referee bias, and match-fixing continue to persist. With the unchanging system, no sports can flourish, and even the best players will be buried.