Chess in China, commonly known as Xiangqi has been rocked after the Chinese Xiangqi Association (CXA) penalized 41 players, including lifetime bans on three players. The players who have received life-time bans include Grand Masters Zhao Xinxin, Wang Yang, and Zheng Weitong. Their technical titles have also been taken away.

Significantly, Wang Yuefei and Wang Tianyi have also been banned for the rest of their life. Tianyi who is considered to be the Magnus Carlsen of Xiangqi, is a four-time national champion and three-time world champion. 

The CXA announced that Zhao and 40 other players participated in illegal activities, including bribery and match-fixing.

Gai Hongyan, Deputy Director of the Administrative Center and Disciplinary Committee, said, "For over a decade, such illegal activities have been hampering the healthy development of the sport, resulting in the manipulation of match results, the unfair distribution of prize money, and control of player promotions."

Xiangqi is a strategy board game for two players. It involves two armies battling against each other, and the main objective is to checkmate the enemy's king. Although Xiangqi originated in Asia, there are Xiangqi leagues and clubs worldwide.