Stephen Hendry has called for a lifetime ban for any player convicted of match-fixing. The seven-times world champion is adamant that no leniency should be shown to any player prepared to fix matches for cash.
Stephen Hendry has called for a lifetime ban for any player convicted of match-fixing. The seven-times world champion is adamant that no leniency should be shown to any player prepared to fix matches for cash.
The sport was rocked on Monday when it was revealed bookmakers had closed the book on the match between two Scots, Stephen Maguire and Jamie Burnett following a series of large wagers on a 9-3 victory for Maguire, which was the final score.
The fallout from that match overshadowed the action on the table yesterday, where Ding Junhui was at his brilliant best, and Ronnie O'Sullivan was at his petulant worst.
"If any player is caught match-fixing, they deserve to be banned for life," said Hendry. "It's such a serious issue I don't think any player deserves to go unpunished. In any sport there's always betting, but any hint of match-fixing should be investigated. There's not a place for it in our sport."
Hendry did not want to comment directly on the match which involved his fellow Scots, but the world No.6 said: "Nothing shocks you these days, especially in sport.
"We've only had a couple of incidents of match-fixing in our sport. Peter Francisco and Quinten Hann both got banned and there's been suspensions in the past, but snooker has had very few incidents. However, anybody throwing results should be banned."
China's Ding, meanwhile, stands to pocket £30,000 for a maximum 147 break during the afternoon session of his last-16 match against John Higgins. However, that was not enough to prevent to Scot closing out a 9-4 victory over the 21-year-old.
Higgins was already 2-0 ahead when Ding potted 15 reds, 15 blacks and all the colours to record the fourth maximum of the season, and the 67th in professional snooker history.
The world No.11, who stands to win £25,000 for the maximum on top of the £5000 prize for the highest break of the tournament, said: "It was brilliant to have a 147, it was a great feeling. I had a couple of hard shots, but I was not nervous. It was such a wonderful feeling to make a maximum, especially on TV."
O'Sullivan, however, will face sanctions after conceding a frame when there were nine reds on the table. The defending champion had led Joe Perry 5-2 at one stage, but lost 9-5, including the concession in the 12th frame after he missed a red when 23-0 down.
O'Sullivan said: "I'm just going to get a little £250 fine and a disciplinary letter. I don't care. I've had a few of them, and I'm sure I'll get a few more of them in the future. I was just happy to get out of the arena and have a cup of tea.
"I got outplayed. I felt very cold and didn't get anything going. You have to give credit to Joe, he played well."
