The "First Case of Corruption in Xiangqi" vs. "Comprehensive Victory in Poverty Alleviation"

Chess diagram. (Fotolia)

[People News] The case known as China's "First Case of Corruption in Xiangqi," involving the grandmaster "Buying and Selling Chess," was heard and sentenced on Wednesday (September 24) at the People's Court of Shangcheng District in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. Six Chinese Xiangqi grandmasters were sentenced, with Wang Tianyi, referred to as the "Number One in Xiangqi," pleading guilty in court.

The six grandmasters indicted in this case include Wang Tianyi, Zhao Xinxin, Hong Zhi, Xu Chao, Xie Jing, and Wang Yuefei, facing two charges: bribery involving non-state personnel and accepting bribes from non-state personnel.

Wang Tianyi, the most prominent player in the case, is nicknamed "alien" in the Xiangqi community. He received a sentencing recommendation of 2 years and 9 months in prison for both bribery and accepting bribes from non-state personnel, along with a fine. Zhao Xinxin was sentenced to a total of 4 years and 9 months in prison for both charges, with a fine. Chinese media did not provide details on the sentencing outcomes for the other defendants.

According to information disclosed during the court hearing, Wang Tianyi was suspected of bribing others 22 times, totalling 942,000 yuan, and was involved in accepting bribes twice, amounting to 116,000 yuan. He pleaded guilty in court, admitting to "accepting additional compensation from sponsors to maintain his ranking."

The scandal broke out around April 2023 when a recorded conversation between two Chinese chess grandmasters, Wang Yuefei and Hao Jichao, surfaced online. In the recording, Hao Jichao confessed to using computer software to cheat during competitions. The two also discussed the involvement of Wang Yuefei and Wang Tianyi in 'buying games' and manipulating chess matches. This revelation sparked significant controversy within the Chinese chess community.

In reality, the Chinese sports sector has been marred by numerous corruption scandals for some time. The most notorious cases have primarily centred around the Chinese Football Association. For instance, on December 13, 2024, former national team coach Li Tie was sentenced to 20 years in prison on five charges, including bribery and corruption. Furthermore, the former head of the General Administration of Sport of China, Gou Zhongwen, was also 'double-opened' the day before.

On September 10, 2024, the General Administration of Sport of China and the Ministry of Public Security held a joint press conference in Dalian, where they announced a list of 61 football personnel involved in the scandal who faced disciplinary actions. Reports indicated that 44 of these individuals had received criminal penalties, with 34 being sentenced to prison terms.

Additionally, the 2009 Chinese football corruption case marked a significant crackdown on illegal activities such as match-fixing, bribery, and game manipulation within Chinese football. Key figures in the Chinese football hierarchy, including former Chinese Football Association Vice President Xie Yalong and Nan Yong, along with their subordinates Yang Yimin and Zhang Jianqiang, were arrested and dismissed from their positions. As a result, Shanghai Shenhua was stripped of its title as the champion of the 2003 Chinese Jia A League.

Some netizens expressed their frustration, stating: "In the men's football league, match-fixing is rampant, and the Football Association is inactive. Players lack motivation and are disinterested in playing; it's as clear as lice on a bald head. I just didn't expect things to deteriorate to this level." Another netizen commented that this situation can only be likened to swatting flies; once investigations reach a certain point, they cannot go any further, and everyone is aware of this.

One netizen pointed out that under the control of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), fraud is pervasive throughout China, affecting all sectors. For instance, the CCP's propaganda media has been mockingly referred to by the public as "the only thing real is the date; everything else is fake." Officials, both high and low, are adept at lying, and various government agencies often release false data. The entire nation is inundated with fake news, fake statistics, fake achievements, fake diplomas, fake vaccines, fake milk powder, fake medicines, and match-fixing... Netizens have humorously suggested that if we were to discuss the extent of fraud in the CCP, it could indeed qualify for a Guinness World Record. "The government's inaction allows evil and petty criminals to thrive, ultimately leaving the people to bear the brunt of the consequences."

Another netizen remarked that high-ranking officials in the central government set an example by lying and promoting falsehoods. For instance, on February 25, 2021, the CCP held a national conference to summarise and commend its poverty alleviation efforts. During this conference, CCP leader Xi Jinping declared: "China has achieved a comprehensive victory in the battle against poverty, with all 98.99 million rural poor people lifted out of poverty according to current standards, creating a 'miracle on earth.'" Xi Jinping boldly lies in public and shows no fear that his words might backfire.

The Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) propaganda outlets fabricate news on a daily basis. Those who dare to speak the truth often find themselves dismissed or suppressed. Conversely, those who are the most deceitful and boastful are frequently promoted to high-ranking positions or become representatives. This culture of deception in the political sphere is a direct result of the CCP's authoritarian regime, which has distorted society as a whole. This open secret is well understood by the Chinese populace.

(Originally published by the People News) △