• Snooker

Hearn planning to ban all forms of betting by players

ESPN staff
May 11, 2010
WPBSA chairman Barry Hearn is keen to rebuild snooker's reputation by banning all players from betting on their own matches © Getty Images
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Barry Hearn has confirmed that all players are to be banned from any form of snooker betting following allegations that John Higgins attempted to bet against himself during last year's World Championship final.

Under the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association's code of conduct, players are prohibited from placing bets on their own matches. Up until now, however, so-called "insurance bets" on the highest break at tournaments have been allowed.

These bets mean that if a player is on course for a cash prize for the highest break of a tournament, they are permitted to take out insurance by betting on their break being beaten by another player. WPBSA chairman Hearn wants to outlaw all forms of betting in the game to avoid any confusion amongst players in an attempt to rebuild the sport's somewhat tarnished image.

"The situation is currently being reviewed in terms of high-break betting," Hearn said. "We need to make it crystal clear to players that they shouldn't be betting on snooker in any matches in any way, and that includes the insurance betting on high breaks."

A WPBSA spokesman confirmed that all players would be left in no doubt regarding the imminent changes. "They would all have been notified by letter," the spokesman said.

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