• Snooker

Match fixing does happen - O'Sullivan

Ronnie O'Sullivan claims snooker players are regularly offered money to throw frames.

The sport was plunged into crisis in May following allegations in the News of the World that world No. 1 John Higgins had agreed to accept £261,000 in return for arranging the outcome of four frames.

Higgins was cleared of match fixing but handed a retrospective six-month ban in September for bringing the game into disrepute.

But while Higgins was found not guilty, O'Sullivan believes players are regularly approached to throw frames, but he insists he has never been tempted.

"It goes on, but I wouldn't do it," Sullivan said. "It's too dangerous, it's not even the type of thing I would even entertain. I just enjoy playing the game, I love competing.

"My gambling is getting on the table and trying to make a 147, that's a big enough gamble for me."

John Higgins made a successful return to the sport earlier this month, and has now set his sights on returning to the world No.1 spot.

And while some may feel Higgins' punishment was too lenient, O'Sullivan insists the Scot has served his punishment and should be allowed to return without prejudice. Higgins will attempt to win the UK Championship for the first time in ten years, having finished runner-up last year to Ding Junhui.

"Obviously there are going to be some people who wished he had got a longer ban, but I think the only reason why they'd think that is because they don't actually want to play him," O'Sullivan said.

"He's such a good player that they'd have thought, we could do with him off the tour for a year or two and give ourselves a chance of winning some tournaments. But John had his punishment, he's served his ban and he's coming back to snooker."

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